Can Nizoral Shampoo Help Hair Loss?

Nizoral shampoo contains the active ingredient ketoconazole, which is an anti-fungal used to treat infections that occur due to fungi and yeasts.

The active ingredient works by interfering with the cell membranes of the fungi or yeasts by preventing them from producing a substance called ergosterol, and this disruption results in holes appearing in the cell membrane, causing essential constituents of the fungal cells to leak out, therefore killing the fungi and treating the infection.

So, if you're looking to treat your seborrhoeic dermatitis (or, in its milder form, dandruff) Nizoral should certainly help, just be sure to follow the advice on the bottle: use the shampoo twice a week for 2-4 weeks, leaving it on the scalp for around four minutes before rinsing off.

However, the shampoo should be used with caution, as among its noted possible side effects are hair loss, itching, and burning sensations.

Of course, these are unusual, but for those concerned about losing their hair, it may be surprising to hear that some people are claiming Nizoral works well as a hair loss treatment, too.

Evaluating the Evidence

A study in mice did find that topical Ketoconazole application increased hair growth in areas that had been clipped down when compared with the control group. However, this does not necessarily mean that Nizoral will have the same effect for humans, or that it can be used to treat hair loss conditions as supposed to just potentially speeding up regrowth.

There has also been a study on men using Nizoral, and whilst 39 participants means that it is particularly limited in its scope, it would appear that the shampoo may have had a difference on hair growth. The authors of the study found that measures of vertex hairs in anagen phase and hair diameter during the course of a 21-month study increased in men using 2% Nizoral, but there is a lack of detail that makes the results difficult to interpret.

Wider-ranging, larger, independent clinical trials would be required in order to establish a true picture of Nizoral's effect on hair growth.

For those looking to use a topical treatment for hair loss, the UK and US medical regulatory bodies (the MHRA and FDA) have already licensed the hairloss solution minoxidil for this purpose.

Clinically-proven treatment options

Minoxidil works by stimulating hair regrowth on the scalp, and can be used to treat male pattern hair loss amongst other hair loss conditions. Belgravia offers a range of minoxidil products, meaning that a hair loss specialist can create a treatment plan with your ideal formulation included.

Belgravia often uses topical applications of high strength minoxidil to treat stubborn areas of hairloss such as a receding hairline. 

Minoxidil can be used on its own or alongside the only other clinically-proven, MHRA-licensed and FDA-approved male hair loss treatment, finasteride 1mg. 

This oral tablet works by blocking DHT, the androgen that causes pattern hair loss by shrinking the hair follicles located along the top of the scalp, from hairline to crown.

Supplementary, non-pharmaceutical treatment boosters such as the FDA cleared LaserComb, can be recommended by hair specialists following a consultation, based on individual needs and medical suitability, to form a comprehensive treatment approach to tackling hair loss and preventing baldness.