A HAIR surgeon has revealed that the best ingredients for stimulating hair growth vary by gender.
He shared the ingredients to look for when buying products to ensure your haircare routine is effective.
Dr. Ismail Ughratdar is a surgeon at the UK-based hair transplant clinic, The Wimpole Clinic.
Speaking to The U.S. Sun, he shared tips for nurturing tresses.
Dr. Ughratdar said hair loss is “very complex” and studies are often limited.
However, the current findings reveal men and women may experience shedding due to different causes.
“Zinc and iron deficiencies appear to have ties with male pattern hair loss, though the evidence is far from conclusive,” he said.
“Lack of biotin, also known as vitamin H, may also play a part in the development of male pattern baldness.
“While sample sizes are small, female pattern hair loss has been linked with vitamin D deficiency.
“This doesn’t appear to affect male pattern baldness.
“So, vitamin D may impact hair growth mechanisms unrelated to androgens, the male sex hormones that react with genes to cause hair loss.”
Dr. Ughratdar revealed that having a vitamin D deficiency can’t trigger female pattern hair loss but can worsen the problem.
He said female pattern hair loss has also been linked to zinc and iron deficiencies.
Ingredients that show a “promising sign” of boosting hair growth include caffeine, biotin, and saw palmetto.
“Diagnosing women’s hair loss can be difficult, so hair loss blood tests and occasionally a scalp biopsy are needed to diagnose thinning hair in women,” he said.
“This hasn’t stopped an entire industry from selling products claiming to support healthy female hair.”
Dr. Ughratdar said there is a “growing body of scientific research” supporting the use of rosemary oil in haircare.
However, he wouldn’t recommend using any hair loss treatments without first identifying the cause of shedding.
“Assuming it is the more common diagnosis of androgenetic alopecia, male or female pattern hair loss, then treatment with rosemary oil can be considered,” he said.
There is also a growing body of scientific research showing the benefits of rosemary oil.
Dr. Ismail Ughratdar
The time it takes for hair loss to stop varies “significantly” and it’s best to seek advice from an experienced specialist when choosing a treatment.
Dr. Ughratdar said men using hair loss medication Finasteride will notice results in around six to nine months.
He warned that discounting the use of the product can lead to resumed hair loss as DHT production increases.
“Minoxidil users may also experience initial shedding,” he said.
“Noticeable improvements often start around three months, with significant results by six months.”
However, hair loss will resume within three to four months of stopping the hair loss treatment.
Stress, hormonal changes, and medication can cause excessive shedding, known as telogen effluvium.
Dr. Ughratdar said this type of hair loss usually lasts less than six months.
“Once the underlying cause is addressed, hair growth typically resumes,” he said.
“Prolonged stress or unresolved issues can extend this period.”
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