Harnessing The Power Of Saw Palmetto For Male Pattern Hair Loss

Written by Rali Bozhinova, Superintendent Trichologist, The Belgravia Centre

Male pattern hair loss is a common condition that affects millions of men worldwide. At The Belgravia Centre, we see this type of hair loss daily. Saw Palmetto, derived from the Serenoa repens plant, has gained attention for its potential to combat hair loss by reducing the dihydrotestosterone hormone. It is used to help slow down hair loss, promote hair regrowth, and improve overall hair health. As a botanical remedy with a good safety profile, it is a popular plant extract in the hair loss world and its benefits are discussed below.

Understanding Saw Palmetto Extract

Saw Palmetto, scientifically known as Serenoa repens, is a small, palm plant native to the Southeastern United States, particularly in regions like Florida and the Gulf Coast. This hardy plant features fan-shaped leaves that have sharp saw-like teeth, or spines, on the stalks of the leaves, which explains its popular name. The plant produces clusters of dark purple to black berries that have a long history of traditional use by Native American tribes, who utilised them for various medicinal purposes.

The plant is best known for its fruit, which contains an extract rich in bioactive compounds, including fatty acids, sterols, and flavonoids. These compounds are believed to have several health benefits, with one of the most well-known applications being in the management of conditions related to the prostate gland, such as benign prostatic hyperplasia. This is because saw palmetto extract is thought to inhibit the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone, a hormone associated with prostate enlargement as well as male pattern hair loss. As a result, it has gained popularity as a natural remedy for these issues and has become an especially popular supplement for those with male pattern hair loss.

Understanding Male Pattern Hair Loss

Before we explore saw palmetto's potential benefits, let's briefly understand male pattern hair loss. It is primarily caused by a combination of genetic and hormonal factors. This is a genetic condition that can be inherited from either side of your family. Often family members may carry the relevant genes without necessarily having severe hair loss. You may then inherit these genes and notice the early signs of hair loss at any age after puberty.   This is because male pattern hair loss is closely linked to a male sex hormone called dihydrotestosterone (DHT). Male sex hormones, also called androgens, peak at puberty which is when many androgen-related changes in the body occur such as the growth of thicker hair on the beard, chest, and axillae, as well as hair thinning on top of the scalp and receding hairline, a process also known as male pattern hair loss or androgenic alopecia.  

In the scalp, testosterone converts into DHT in the presence of a 5-alpha reductase enzyme. DHT then interacts with cells in the hair follicles, contributing to significant changes in the hair growth cycle. As a result, the hair follicles miniaturise – they become smaller and shallower, the hair that they grow becomes thinner and weaker, and the rate of hair growth may feel very slow. When your follicles are still strong and healthy, they are capable of holding multiple hair strands in each follicle. However, when they miniaturise, they often hold a single hair strand, gradually reducing your hair density. In the long term, these follicles can disappear, leaving permanent hair loss.

 

Signs of male pattern hair loss include:

 

• Receding hairline
• Thinning of the crown
• Thinning on top
• The hair at the back of the scalp remains stronger
• Finding hair on your pillow, in the bathroom, on your hands and clothes
• Seeing your scalp through your hair more easily
• Baldness on top of the head

It is important to note that male pattern hair loss is a progressive condition which means it can get worse over time, causing further hair loss. Early treatment is therefore important to strengthen the hair follicles, prolong the hair cycle, encourage stronger and thicker hair growth, and slow down or stop hair loss.

Can Saw Palmetto Treat Male Pattern Hair Loss?

The short answer to this question is that saw palmetto is not a medically proven treatment for male pattern hair loss and as a stand-alone therapy it is unlikely to treat the condition. However, its benefits shouldn’t be undermined as research shows that it can be a good supplement for those with male pattern hair loss.

 

 

Saw palmetto extract is thought to work by inhibiting the 5-alpha reductase enzyme and hence, reducing the production of DHT. If less DHT is made, there will be less DHT to reach the hair follicles and make them miniaturise, or shrink over time.

This is a similar mechanism to how finasteride works – a medication licensed for the treatment of male pattern hair loss. For this reason, many studies have compared the two and have explored the use of saw palmetto since it is not known to cause the same side effects as finasteride. In addition, saw-palmetto has been observed to reduce the binding of DHT to androgen receptors in the hair follicle cells which explains why it is such as popular supplement for men.

Prager et al (2002) described a placebo-controlled double-blind study exploring the benefits of beta-sitosterol 50mg and saw palmetto extract 200mg, both botanically derived 5-alpha reductase inhibitors, in the treatment of male pattern hair loss. They recruited men between the ages 23 and 64 years of age who had mild to moderate male pattern hair loss and did not use any other medications for this condition. Over the space of 18 to 25 weeks, 19 men completed the study, some used a capsule twice daily containing beta-sitosterol and saw palmetto, and the rest took a placebo capsule twice daily. 60% of those using the capsule with beta-sitosterol and saw palmetto noticed an improvement in their hair growth. In contrast, only 11% of the placebo participants noticed improvement in their hair. As promising as this sounds, this study had a very small number of participants and the results were based on self-assessment.

Rossi et all (2012) compared the effects of finasteride to saw palmetto extract in the treatment of male pattern hair loss. They enrolled 100 men aged between 20 and 40 years of age with mild to moderate male pattern hair loss. Half of the participants took saw palmetto extract 320mg per day for two years, while the other half took finasteride 1mg per day also for two years. Before and after photos were taken to compare the results, which demonstrated that both groups had improvement in their hair - 38% of those using saw palmetto experienced increased hair growth, and 68% of those using finasteride had improvement in hair growth.

Wessagowit et al (2016) observed 49 men between 20-50 years of age with mild to moderate male pattern hair loss. They tested the efficacy of topical products containing saw palmetto extract in the treatment of androgenic alopecia over a period of 24 weeks. A 3.3ml of concentrated topical serum containing saw palmetto extract, green tea extract, peony root extract, and piroctone-olamine oligopeptides was applied to the scalp daily for the first four weeks. A 2ml of the same ingredients but in a diluted lotion was applied to the scalp daily for the duration of the entire study. The participants achieved increased hair count after 12 weeks but no further improvement after that. However, at the end of the study, the terminal hair count was still more compared to the start of the treatment so the participants were satisfied with the product. The average hair thickness also increased at 12 weeks but then decreased again so there was no difference in the hair thickness by the end of the study. This may have been due to the concentrated serum being stopped after four weeks.

Saw Palmetto Safety

Crescioli et al (2023) published a worldwide analysis of reported adverse reactions to products containing saw palmetto extract. 

 

Usually, supplements containing saw palmetto dose of 160-320mg are used in men with benign prostatic hyperplasia or male pattern hair loss. Overall, saw palmetto extract is considered safe and well-tolerated in such doses, although some people report abdominal pain, nausea and upset stomach, especially if taken on an empty stomach, although these symptoms are usually mild, self-limiting and reversible. Others may experience skin rashes, whilst allergies and other side effects are very rare.

It is important to note that people who experience adverse reactions may take supplements or medications with other ingredients contributing to their symptoms. Additionally, since many saw palmetto products are supplements sold over-the-counter, it is difficult to know if people take them correctly or in conjunction with other medications without informing their doctor. Some prescription medications may have interactions with saw palmetto extract – for example, it has been reported that saw palmetto may increase the risk of bleeding if taken in combination with blood-thinners such as warfarin; additionally, saw palmetto taken by women may alter the effectiveness of hormonal medications such as birth control pills and hormone replacement therapy.

The overall safety profile of saw palmetto is good, especially if taken as recommended by your healthcare practitioner.

How To Treat Male Pattern Hair Loss

If you have noticed signs of hair loss, it is always best to address this early – it is easier to treat and the results are likely to be better. The first thing you should do is contact a hair loss specialist and arrange your first consultation. Our qualified hair loss specialists have extensive experience in treating hair loss conditions. They will go through your medical history, examine your scalp, and discuss a suitable treatment plan tailored to your specific case.

Similarly to saw palmetto, there are other plants that can help reduce DHT.  However, there is simply not enough evidence that the use of such plant extracts alone can treat androgenic alopecia, or maintain hair density in the long term. This is why your hair loss specialist will look at the full picture and discuss a combination of products that can help you achieve optimal hair growth.

Treatment

The only two medically proven treatments for male pattern hair loss are minoxidil and finasteride.

Minoxidil increases the blood supply, which increases the nutrients delivered to the hair follicles and prevents miniaturisation of the follicles, resulting in the prevention of hair loss and regrowth of the hair in many cases. It helps to keep the hair follicles growing hair for longer and stay bigger and stronger.

The Belgravia Centre’s pharmacy prepares special formulations of minoxidil at different strengths and preparations, and with various additives to maximise effectiveness. Some of these added ingredients are used to protect the hair follicles from the DHT hormone. Your hair loss specialist will help you find the most suitable preparation for you and tailor your treatment regimen based on your medical history, lifestyle, and severity of hair loss.

Finasteride can be used in oral or topical form. It works by inhibiting the 5-alpha reductase enzyme and therefore, significantly reducing the production of DHT. As a result, the hair follicles stop miniaturising and are encouraged to grow stronger hair in most cases.

Hair Vitalics for men is a comprehensive food supplement that combines important vitamins, minerals, amino acids and botanical extracts to support the health of the hair. Biotin, zinc, and selenium are key ingredients for the maintenance of healthy hair growth, whilst pumpkin seed extract is added to reduce the DHT and help increase hair density.

Low level laser light therapy, such as HairMax LaserBand, is used at home or in the clinic to help increase blood circulation and promote stronger hair growth.

Aftercare

When you start treatment with The Belgravia Centre, not only your hair loss specialist will discuss a treatment plan for you, but they will also monitor you regularly during check-up appointments, and will be ready to answer any questions that you may have 7 days a week.

Regardless of the type of treatment used, the time that it takes to see results always depends on your hair growth cycle. For the average patient, it takes 3-6 months to see the initial results, further results are usually seen in the months after that. It can take a year, sometimes slightly longer, to see the maximum possible regrowth from the treatment. As long as the treatment is going well, it is important to continue using it after one year. This helps to maintain the results and help the hair grow to its optimal potential.

Regular monitoring is important while you are treating your hair. Our specialists will monitor your progress closely and will take standardised photos of your hair every 3 months which will help you track your progress in future. If you are having online check-ups, our specialists will guide you through each step of the treatment and will explain how to take photos by yourself. Your hair loss specialist will also be ready to help you at any point during your treatment should you have any queries, or if any part of your treatment needs to be amended.

Booking A Consultation

This couldn’t be simpler, just follow these steps depending on your situation:

If you just want to ask a question:

• Call us on 020 7730 6666 and ask to speak with a hair loss specialist or
• Get in touch with us online

If you would like to book a free consultation at our Central London clinic:

• Call us on 020 7730 6666 and ask to book an appointment or
• Book a free consultation by contacting us online
• You can collect your medication on the day of your appointment, or we can post it to you

 

If you would like to have an online consultation:

• Complete an online consultation form from anywhere in the world – this will take you 5-10 minutes
• We will get in touch with you on the same or next day and help you book a Zoom consultation with a hair loss specialist
• We can post your medication to most parts of the world

Take a look through our hair regrowth photo gallery – which is the largest gallery of its kind in the world and contains over 1,000 sets of hair growth photos and verified reviews from patients of The Belgravia Centre. Our experts will assist you through your journey from the moment you contact us.