Does Rubbing Ginger on Bald Spots Cure Hair Loss?'

Anonymous

Question: Does rubbing ginger on bald spots stop hair loss? Does it have to be fresh ginger and do you rub it straight into your scalp or do you mix it with something first to make your hair grow?

Answer: Hi there. The rumour about ginger being able to prevent hair loss is unfounded, I'm afraid; Along with rubbing onions into your scalp, it is a long-standing hair loss myth.

The action of massaging the scalp - regardless of whether you use ginger or not - can increase blood flow to the area which, if used as an additional therapy whilst following a hair loss treatment course featuring clinically-proven medications, can be useful. It can help to enhance the action of the treatment, however, scalp massage alone can simply help to further circulate the DHT which causes genetically thinning hair.

Rubbing ginger into the scalp will have no measurable benefit in combating shedding. It is known to have anti-inflammatory properties and is often used as a natural remedy for pain or nausea but is also believed to cause skin irritation in some people.

In terms of helping to improve the condition of your hair, fresh ginger root can be beneficial if it is consumed rather than applied directly to the scalp. It will not stop or treat baldness, but it can improve the health of your hair due to it containing magnesium, vitamin B-6 and, to a lesser extent, vitamin C. These are all known to aid healthy hair growth and can improve the vitality of the hair when eaten as part of a generally well balanced diet. It is important to be aware of the potential side-effects of ginger consumption. These include it interacting with certain medications, including those designed to prevent blood clotting, and decreasing blood sugar levels - something people with diabetes should be particularly aware of.

There are medically-approved hair loss treatments available which can often produce significant results, but first it is important to get a professional diagnosis of your condition.

As you mention 'bald spots' there is a chance this could be the autoimmune condition Alopecia Areata. This is often a temporary condition with the normal hair growth cycle resuming after some time, although alopecia areata treatment can also be used to accelerate this process.