A number of shampoos on store shelves now have an added ingredient: caffeine. Research conducted by German scientists has suggested that caffeine can aid in the combat against hair loss. More research is necessary, but it appears from a small study that large amounts of caffeine in shampoo can inhibit testosterone, one of the factors that contribute to hair loss and male pattern balding, a condition doctors call androgenic alopecia. The caffeine is said to block DHT, or dihydrotestosterone, which in high concentrations leads to baldness.
Researchers claim caffeine shampoo can be a helpful topical hair loss treatment. In addition to fighting off the effects of testosterone and blocking DHT, preventing further hair loss, caffeine shampoo can promote hair growth. Taking caffeine orally in the form of coffee, however, is not recommended. The amount of caffeine required if taken orally — 60-80 cups a day — would be far too much for anybody.
Too much testosterone for a woman, especially after menopause when a woman’s estrogen level drops, has led to similar balding problems in women. Women, however, usually do not experience complete baldness as men do. Women tend to experience thinning hair, but the problem is no less upsetting for them than it is for men.
In addition to using caffeine shampoos, men and women fighting hair loss are advised to reduce their stress levels, if possible. Stress contributes to another form of hair loss, alopecia areata. Some scientists have classified this disorder as an auto-immune problem. A healthy diet is also important because the hair can’t grow without sufficient nutrients.
There are some brands of caffeine shampoo on the market that also give the hair the appearance of more volume, helping to hide the problem of thinning hair. Some of these shampoos also claim to increase the hair shaft’s strength. Caffeine shampoo can be found online and on drugstore and grocery shelves.
Caffeine is a naturally occurring substance that is found in plants, both their seeds and their leaves. It is a substance that also can be replicated in the laboratory. Scientists identify it as a drug because of the effect it has on the human body. Caffeine stimulates the central nervous system, and because of this many people enjoy caffeine for the boost it gives their energy levels.