Mon 25 Feb 2008
Jojoba Oil: An Effective Hair Loss Treatment?
Category: Herbal Treatments , Non Surgical Treatments , Scams , TopicalsJojoba Oil as a Hair Loss Treatment
Hair loss sufferers seeking hair loss help are often attracted to the many herbal non surgical treatments that claim to work as a treatment for hair loss. Whereas there is no question that marketing is over-reaching at best in order to sell a product, the real question that any hair loss sufferer asks is: will this product help combat baldness or is there any chance that it will regrow hair? To date however, it is important to understand that there is no hair loss cure, therefore realistic expectations must be kept when considering any hair restoration product.
Below I decided to take a look at an oil that has been said to fight against hair loss when used topically. This product is an “active” ingredient in a few hair loss remedies such as HairMax MD, a topical hair loss treatment. Jojoba oil can also be bought as a stand alone product in local nutritional stores.
Jojoba Oil
Jojoba oil is known to be a scalp cleanser that can help alleviate encrusted buildup (called sebum) on the scalp when applied topically. This sebum may block hair follicles from growing and impede normal hair growth. Its unique anti-oxidant properties may protect the scalp and hair from damage, ultimately, keeping them more healthy.
Though keeping the scalp clean is extremely important, in my opinion, unless a hair loss sufferer is losing hair for non-genetic related reasons such as scalp dermatitis, bad dandruff, or excessive sebum build up, this ingredient will do nothing to fight against Androgenetic Alopecia (genetic hair loss), which causes approximately 95% of all hair loss.
Conclusion:
Excessive sebum buildup has been said to be a secondary cause of hair loss but is not the root cause of hereditary hair loss. Therefore this product may prove to be beneficial for those suffering from nongenetic forms of hair loss caused by this or dermatitus. I have not found any evidence that suggests that Jojoba oil has any benefit for those suffering from male pattern baldness or female pattern baldness.
In my opinion, it would be better to stick to the hair loss drugs that have been proven: Propecia (finasteride), and Rogaine 5% (minoxodil). As an adjunct hair restoration treatment, Nizoral shampoo or Revita shampoo both containing active ingredient ketoconazole may also be helpful.
Bill Seemiller
Associate Publisher of the Hair Transplant Network and the Hair Loss Learning Center
View my Hair Loss Weblog
Technorati Tags: Jojoba Oil, Hair Loss Treatment, hair loss help, non surgical treatments, treatment for hair loss, baldness, regrow hair, hair loss cure, hair restoration, hair loss, hair loss remedies, HairMax MD, topical hair loss treatment, hair growth, losing hair, Androgenetic Alopecia, genetic hair loss, hereditary hair loss, male pattern baldness, female pattern baldness, hair loss drugs, finasteride, minoxodil
- Can I Rub Oil On My Scalp After a Hair Transplant?
- Is Lemon Oil an Effective Hair Loss Treatment?
- Can Magnesium Oil Help Fight Hair Loss?
- “Guaranteed” Hair Loss Treatments as Advertised: Do They Really Work?
- Does Tea Trea Oil Work as a Hair Loss Medication?
August 4th, 2010 at 2:55 pm
I don’t think you’ve done your research on natural oils such as jojoba and essential oils.
These oils are not there to “cure” baldness/hair loss but are there to “treat” it instead just like the drugs you’re suggesting to use.
There are a few essential oils that help to control the production of DHT and are also tested to be anti-androgenic.
These are the same qualities that hair growth drugs have to treat hair loss.
The carrier and essential oils cost much less, are healthier for the body, have been used for 1,000′s of years to treat hair loss, and have little to NO SIDE EFFECTS.
As for jojoba, it helps to retain the moisture of the hair and follicle and to clean the scalp and follicles free from dead skin cells, dirt (dust), pollution, and excess sebum. (also helps to clean the hair and scalp from build-up of “hair product” use)
Jojoba can also help to improve circulation to the scalp thus having more oxygen and nutrients to feed the follicles.
You should do more research before trying to persuade people to use unnatural products such as propecia and minoxodil that haven’t even been tested for long term use.
August 6th, 2010 at 12:39 am
James,
Thank you for your feedback. In fact, we have done our research. We do not deny that using Jojoba or other essential oils may produce a small cosmetic improvement and perhaps improve the overall health of the hair. However, one fact remains. There are only two clinically proven and FDA approved treatments for hair loss: Rogaine and Propecia.
These two treatments, when used in combination, represent a balding man’s best option for retaining existing hair and, in some cases, reversing hair loss. Advising anyone to forgo this method of treatment (unless they are ineligible due to medical reasons) for any substitute would be to waste valuable time and valuable hair follicles.
All the best,
David (TakingThePlunge)
January 20th, 2012 at 7:27 pm
I hate to say it, but anyone with any small amount of common sense knows NOT to trust the FDA. They are in it for profit, not for the overall health of the person. They want to make money off as many drugs as possible. Using the FDA is assuming the readers are uneducated and ignorant. I agree with James. Even IF you’ve done your homework, you are trying to be pro-medication and I can’t help but wonder if there is some financial benefit for you to do so.