Can Saw Palmetto Stop Hair Loss?



If you’re struggling with hair loss chances are you’ve heard about Saw Palmetto. In fact, Saw Palmetto is the most popular hair loss supplement on the market. Hair loss supplement companies have claimed that Saw Palmetto is the herbal Propecia, but is it true? Continue reading.

What is Saw Palmetto?

Saw Palmetto is a small palm that is endemic to the subtropical South-eastern United States, commonly found along the south Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plains. Saw Palmetto is extracted through the berries of this small palm tree. Saw Palmetto is commonly used as an herbal supplement to treat Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH).

How Does Saw Palmetto Supposedly Work?

Saw Palmetto has been found to be a potent 5-alpha-reductase inhibitor. Hair follicles contain a high level of an enzyme called 5-alpha reductase. This enzyme is responsible for converting testosterone into dihydrotestosterone (DHT) through the bloodstream. DHT is the main cause of androgenic alopecia or genetic hair loss in men and women. Therefore, by inhibiting the 5-alpha-reductase enzyme, the body will produce less DHT which in theory will decrease hair loss.

Is There Scientific Evidence?

Unfortunately, there isn't a lot of scientific evidence to prove that Saw Palmetto is an effective treatment option for men and women suffering from hair loss. However, in a small study of 10 males suffering from androgenic alopecia 60% (6/10) reported significant improvement at the end of the trial. Another study consisting of 34 men and 28 women saw a 35% increase in hair density at the end of the three-month trial. However, it should be noted that Saw Palmetto was not the only "active" ingredient in the trial. 

Bottom Line

While the few published studies sound exciting and promising, it is important to remember that the sample size of the studies was small. In addition, in one of the studies, more than one ingredient was used to treat hair loss. Therefore, it is impossible to conclude that Saw Palmetto was responsible for the results. Based on the studies available, however, it appears that Saw Palmetto may be a safe alternative to Propecia (finasteride) for those who cannot tolerate the medication. 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Preventing Shock Loss After A Hair Transplant

Image
It is common knowledge that surgical hair restoration can cause a phenomenon called telogen effluvium (shock loss). This has prevented many hair loss sufferers from undergoing hair transplant surgery. But the question on everyone’s mind is can shock loss be prevented?  In this article, we will be discussing the possibility of preventing shock loss. What is shock loss? Shock loss is a form of short-term hair loss that can occur after a surgical procedure. Telogen effluvium (shock loss) is described as a chronic hair shedding for an extended period of time generally lasting three to six months. How does this relate to hair transplantation? Simple, hair restoration surgery causes shock loss because hairs are implanted in close
Read more

FUE Hair Transplant Surgery – Everything You Need to Know?

Image
Given the major development over the last decade, FUE (Follicular unit extraction) hair transplant surgery has become one of the most sought-after choices for men and some with hair loss considering hair surgery. There is no doubt that it has completely revolutionized the entire hair transplant process.  Below, we discuss FUE, how it works and it’s benefits and it’s limitations.  What exactly is FUE hair transplant surgery? Follicular unit extraction is one of the two modern and most effective donor harvesting techniques used during a follicular unit transplant (FUT) procedure. The process involves removing follicular units (hair groupings as they occur naturally in the scalp typically between 1 and 4 hairs) one by one from the donor area (typically the sides and back of the scalp, the body or the face) and placing them into tiny recipient incisions made by the surgeon in the balding areas. This method is very popular and doesn’t produce the linear scarring asso
Read more

5 Most Common Mistakes People Make With Hair Loss Treatment

Image
Today, everywhere you turn, there is advice about hair care and hair loss. Magazines, TV, the internet. Everyone sees it. Sometimes the advice is quite good actually and sometimes it is not. You can hear countless stories everyday of how an individual tried a particular supplement or shampoo because a friend, family member or hairstylist recommended it or how an individual asked for certain blood tests because they read it's critical to have that test done.  Fortunately, most of the time, the things people do by acting on the advice of others is not harmful but perhaps the time or money it consumes. However, there are some exceptions. 1. Inability to do top to bottom research  In the time of information technology, the vast majority of people don't go through over 15 minutes on research for hair loss treatment which is such a significant and life-changing decision.  2. Inability to get an appropriate therapeutic analysis through the alopecia test  What indi
Read more