Feldman PR, Fiebig KM, Piwko C, Mints BM, Brown D, Cahan DJ, Guevara-Aguirre J. Feldman PR, et al. EClinicalMedicine. 2021 Jun 24;37:100978. doi: 10.1016/j.eclinm.2021.100978. eCollection 2021 Jul. EClinicalMedicine. 2021. PMID: 34235415 Free PMC article. There are several vitamins and nutrients that are beneficial for hair growth. Too much of others, like vitamins A and E, may actually worsen hair loss. A review of 12 randomized controlled studies — the gold standard in nutrition research — compared Permixon with conventional drug therapy as a treatment for BPH and LUTS. Rossi, A., Mari, E., Scarno, M., Garelli, V., Maxia, C., Scali, E., Iorio, A., & Carlesimo, M. (2012). Comparitive effectiveness of finasteride vs Serenoa repens in male androgenetic alopecia: a two-year study. International Journal of Immunopathology and Pharmacology, 25(4), 1167–1173. Fiume, M. M., Heldreth, B., Bergfeld, W. F., Belsito, D. V., Hill, R. A., Klaassen, C. D., Liebler, D. C., Shank, R. C., Slaga, T. J., Snyder, P. W., & Andersen, F. A. (2017). Safety Assessment of Diethanolamine and Its Salts as Used in Cosmetics. International Journal of Toxicology.

Testosterone is converted to DHT thanks to an enzyme called 5-alpha reductase (5-AR). After it gets rolling through the bloodstream, DHT is able to connect to receptors on the scalp’s hair follicles, making them shrink. Saw palmetto is a natural extract that usually comes in tablet form. It is used in many forms of traditional herbal medicine, typically for problems with urinating. These days, saw palmetto is touted as a herbal cure for men suffering from benign prostatic hyperplasia (a condition which causes problems urinating). Uses of saw palmetto Men looking to battle dandruff will appreciate Hims Dandruff Detox. Our testers found it to be effective and to smell better than most competitors containing similar ingredients. Keeps ketoconazole shampoo is likely more effective based on studies comparing its main ingredient to pyrithione zinc, but Hims includes other ingredients designed for scalp health that are not present in the Keeps product. You’ll need to pair that Keeps shampoo with an especially effective conditioner to safeguard against lingering dryness and potential irritation. You also should know that Keeps' ketoconazole shampoo has a medicinal smell, unlike its other hair products and unlike Hims Dandruff Detox. follicular unit extraction (a hair transplant including only follicles without using connecting tissue) Bussoletti C, et al. (2020). Efficacy of a cosmetic phyto-caffeine shampoo in female androgenetic alopecia.Hair breakage may be the result of styling habits over time, like using heat to style your hair. Using harsh shampoos, overwashing, and not conditioning your hair can also cause it to break and thin. Modifying these habits can help restore your hair. Another study found that almost 50% of men with androgenic alopecia saw a nearly 12% increase in hair count when using concentrated topical saw palmetto along with another substance (trichogen veg complex) not found in Hims Shampoo. 10 This pattern of studies showing positive results with saw palmetto used in conjunction with other botanical treatments is typical of the literature. As with all remedies both natural and synthetic, it’s important to consider possible side effects and drug interactions before using saw palmetto to treat your hair loss. Side effects of saw palmetto usage may include: While dandruff may be seen by some as a sign of uncleanliness, the truth is that people with dandruff have the same scalp environment as those without it. And around half of the world’s population suffers from it. 12 All of us are home to innumerable microorganisms, including yeast and fungi, that live on our heads. One such yeast genus — Malassezia — lives off the oil on our scalps. People with dandruff are more sensitive to it, which leads to irritation, itchiness, and flaking. Tr P, Ts R, K SK, Prasanna H. Tr P, et al. Cureus. 2023 May 8;15(5):e38696. doi: 10.7759/cureus.38696. eCollection 2023 May. Cureus. 2023. PMID: 37292551 Free PMC article.

Some people apply egg yolk to their scalp as a hair treatment. We explain the reasons why and how to make an egg yolk hair mask. READ MORE The anti-dandruff shampoo works well for its intended use. One of our testers typically relied on a medicated shampoo to fight their dandruff, and Hims’ Dandruff Detox worked comparably well. The most impressive thing about it wasn’t its dandruff-fighting capabilities, though. It was the scent. Choi, F. D., Juhasz, M. L. W., & Atanaskova Mesinkovska, N. (2019). Topical ketoconazole: a systematic review of current dermatological applications and future developments. The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 30(8), 760–771. Gerber G. Saw palmetto for the treatment of men with lower urinary tract symptoms. J Urol. 2000;163((5)):1408–12.In the end, 38% of those who took saw palmetto had an improvement in their hair loss, compared with 68% of those who took finasteride. This finding suggests that both treatments had an effect but that finasteride was more effective. The researchers also noted that the more severe the hair loss, the less likely saw palmetto was to work. Always consult your healthcare provider before taking saw palmetto to ensure your safety and appropriate dosage. Summary Biotin (vitamin H): Biotin is a water-soluble vitamin that’s part of the B vitamin family. It’s important to have biotin in your diet for hair growth. Some shampoos also contain this ingredient, which may promote hair fullness and reduce breakage.

Moreover, there is some concern that saw palmetto may be linked to birth defects and may prevent the normal development of male genitalia ( 1). For example, if the cause of your hair loss is genetic or the result of scarring it may not be possible to regrow hair. Fu D, et al. (2021). Dihydrotestosterone-induced hair regrowth inhibition by activating androgen receptor in C57BL6 mice simulates androgenetic alopecia. One systematic review of studies looking at both topical and oral saw palmetto found topical applications associated with: 5 DHT is thought to be the culprit behind shrunken hair follicles and hair losing its density and quality. This leads to hair loss known as male pattern baldness.

In a small 2002 study, researchers gave 10 males with androgenetic alopecia a supplement that contained both saw palmetto and beta-sitosterol. The researchers noted improvements in 6 of the 10 males. As this study was very small, additional research is necessary to support these findings.

Platelet rich plasma (PRP) injections, which are put into the scalp to create a healthier environment for hair growth, are also an option. Bach D, Ebeling L. Long-term drug treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia: results of a prospective 3-year multicenter study using Sabal extract IDS 89. Phytomedicine. 1996;3((2)):105–11.Two case studies further report that young girls experienced hot flashes when given saw palmetto supplements to treat hair loss or hirsutism — a condition causing unwanted male-pattern hair growth in women ( 28, 29).