It’s hard to explain to someone who has never struggled with sudden hair loss and thinning how distressing and upsetting this situation can be. Hair loss can feel like losing control. It’s also much more common than you think, although it’s still taboo among women to talk about.
It’s reassuring to hear an expert like dermatologist Dr. Shereene Idriss say she understands the feelings that come with hair loss and that it’s OK to do whatever you can, as a multi-pronged approach may be best.
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Idriss’ first piece of advice is that it’s important to find out the root cause of your hair loss first – without this knowledge, it’s difficult to determine the best approach to combat the problem. The reason for your hair loss could be genetic, hormonal, disease-related, stress-related, or something else entirely.
In the meantime, while you work with a dermatologist or trichologist to get more answers about your hair loss, these supplements and products can help bridge the gap and encourage new hair growth.
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Rogaine (Minoxidil) for men
First, skip the Rogaine for women – Idriss says Rogaine for men is most effective. Also called minoxidil, Rogaine works by dilating blood vessels to increase blood flow to hair follicles and promote hair growth. In addition to stimulating hair follicles, it helps prolong the anagen phase, which is the phase when hair strands are actively growing. Minoxidil is also linked to cell proliferation in the hair follicle so strands grow back stronger and healthier.
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Ketoconazole Shampoo
Ketoconazole shampoo is a topical anti-fungal shampoo that relieves dandruff and seborrheic dermatitis. These conditions and other examples of inflammation on the scalp can clog hair follicles and lead to more hair loss while impairing hair growth. Using a ketoconazole shampoo inhibits fungal growth and can reduce inflammation on the scalp. For best results, leave the shampoo on your scalp for a few minutes before rinsing.
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Prenatal vitamins
Prenatal vitamins contain a wealth of nutrients essential for healthy hair, such as folic acid, iron, omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin D. They help improve nutrient absorption and make up for any nutritional deficiencies to promote healthy hair growth.
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Special dietary supplements against hair loss
There are a number of supplements on the market now that claim to help with hair loss, including the popular Nutrafol. They are not all the same – it’s important to speak to your dermatologist and do your own homework to compare the ingredients of different supplement brands. If you can afford to invest in a dedicated hair loss supplement, you’ll benefit from ingredients like saw palmetto, which balances hormones, curcumin to reduce inflammation, zinc and collagen, and ashwagandha, an adaptogen that helps manage stress.
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Biotin (but there is a caveat)
There is always confusion about biotin and whether it is really as important for hair growth as we are told. The truth is: biotin is important. You need biotin in your diet. But you don’t need an excess of biotin, and taking too much can actually lead to gastrointestinal upset and skin/scalp problems like rashes. Most people are not biotin deficient, and taking too much is not helpful.
