If you’ve been reading up on hair loss, you may have come across information about how caffeine has the potential to promote hair growth.
However, it’s important to understand what caffeine can and can’t actually do when it comes to androgenic hair loss.
The studies done can be a bit confusing (especially if you haven’t had enough coffee today).
The effect of caffeine on your hair
Caffeine is commonly used for its stimulating effects on the brain. But it might benefit something else on your head – namely your hair and skin.
While we would benefit from more research on the effects of caffeine on hair, the studies done so far have shown that caffeine may have a positive effect on hair growth.
According to Dr. Russell Knudsen caffeine for hair could be used in several ways. The most beneficial use would be in conjunction with other treatment.
In theory, the combination of, for example,minoxidil or finasteride and caffeine would result in an additional effective treatment.
Caffeine acts as a vasodilator and thus improves blood flow in the body. This can allow medications to pass through barriers more efficiently.
Caffeine and DHT
We all have an enzyme calledII 5-alpha-reductase in our bodies, which converts testosterone into the steroid hormone DHT.
The hormone shortens the hair growth phase, leading to thinner hair and in turn (male) hair loss.
Some studies speculates that caffeine may block DHT in the body. Unlike Finasteride – which only inhibits the enzyme – caffeine presumably has a direct effect on DHT.
Another study addresses caffeine’s theoretical ability to increase the amount of cells that create hair and its protective structure.
The study also discusses the substance’s potential to stimulate a hormone that promotes tissue growth and a longer growth phase of hair follicles.
How could caffeine for hair be used?
Unfortunately, if caffeine is proven to have a positive effect on hair growth, drinking just a few extra cups of coffee every day wouldn’t help.
It would take more coffee than is considered safe to consume to see a difference in hair. An excessive intake of caffeine can lead to tremors, palpitations and, in extreme cases, caffeine poisoning.
You would have needed to focus directly on the area – i.e. application of caffeinedirectly on the scalp.
No, that doesn’t mean you should rinse your hair with yesterday’s coffee. Instead, it would have to be done through a concentrated serum.
For example, some doctors talk about creating a solution of Minoxidil and caffeine or a cutaneous Finasteride or Minoxidil emulsion.
Conclusion
Theoretically, caffeine can help fight hair loss. However, it is an area that requires more research before we can guarantee its effectiveness.
We also need to distinguish between coffee and caffeine.
Today, there is no evidence that the consumption of coffee alone in everyday life has an impact on hair follicles.
Drinking several cups a day will not make any difference. Studies, however, have raised speculation about the direct application of caffeine and its capabilities.
But even if you use a concentrate of caffeine directly on the scalp, we can’t vouch for the fact that it will cause changes in the hair.
We hope that more studies will be carried out to demonstrate the effects of caffeine and that a concrete, tangible way of using it will be developed.
Until then, we will follow developments with excitement.
PRP is the alternative
However, we can instead recommend PRPto those who want to treat hair loss.
PRP is an injectable treatment that uses the body’s own growth factors (without additives) to improve hair growth.
It is therefore a 100% natural, quick and easy procedure – completely free of side effects.
