Does Emu Oil Help Hair Loss Treatment Work Better?'

Name: Aarav

Question: Does emu oil make hair loss medication work better when I apply to scalp? Please tell me.

Answer: Hi, Aarav. We understand that this is a popular internet rumour based - we presume - on emu oil's alleged anti-inflammatory properties, but there is no clinical evidence to support this theory.

Furthermore, according to Medical News Today, there have been reports of emu oil causing irritation when it is applied directly to the skin.

The purpose of applying oil to the scalp or hair is to nourish and moisturise it - it can help the condition of existing hair, but it cannot treat or prevent a hair loss condition - this is the job of clinically-proven hair loss treatments.

Contrary to helping hair loss treatment to be more effective, in some cases using emu oil or any other hair oil can actually dilute the topically-applied MHRA-licensed and FDA-approved hair loss solution, high strength minoxidil. This may make it less effective.

If you are using a hair oil as well as topical hair loss solutions, it is wise to apply the oil at least an hour after applying minoxidil.

There is no reliable medical evidence regarding the use of emu oil for hair growth or hair care and the quality of the oil depends on how well the emus are raised. This, in turn, can mean the better quality oils are higher in price, and cheaper versions may be of inferior quality.

There are many more affordable and widely suitable scalp and hair oil options, including coconut oil, argan oil and castor oil, it is just important to be mindful of how and when you use them. Not to mention being mindful of the fact that whichever one you use, hair oil is essentially used as a haircare product - not a hair loss treatment or medication.

If you are looking to enhance your current hair regimen, there are a number of steps you can take. One of these is to consider adding appropriate hair growth supporting products to your regime in addition to the authorised medications.

These include FDA-cleared low level laser therapy (LLLT) devices, such as the HairMax LaserComb or LaserBand, which are painless ways to stimulate follicles in order to promote strong hair as well as hair growth.

The one-a-day food supplement Hair Vitalics for Men has also been developed exclusively by Belgravia hair specialists for the maintenance of normal, healthy hair growth. The highly-targeted formula contains a number of key vitamins, minerals, amino acids and botanical extracts, including biotin, zinc and selenium.

If you are unsure as to which options may be open to you, or would like personalised advice as to which may be most suited to you based on your current treatment routine, condition, level and pattern of shedding, and medical profile, a consultation with a hair loss specialist should provide the answers you are looking for.