Will Detox Tea Help Alopecia Areata Hair Regrowth?'

Name: Shay

Question: Do you believe in natural hair loss treatments for alopecia areata such as detox tea drinks? Many manufacturers claim I should try them but I have not seen any scientific basis for this.

Answer: Hi, Shay. As far as we are aware there is absolutely no reliable clinical trial data or scientific proof that detox tea can treat any form of hair loss. We would be interested to hear which brands are making these claims, which ingredients they are in relation to and what clinical evidence there is for them.

There are a number of vitamins, minerals, botanical extracts and amino acids known to support normal healthy hair growth - including selenium, biotin and zinc as per Belgravia's premium Hair Vitalics food supplements - but these are nutritional products, not hair loss treatments. Whilst these types of ingredients, when taken in the recommended amounts, may benefit the condition of existing hair, we are unaware of any 'natural remedies' which have sufficiently compelling trial-based evidence to warrant them being called 'hair loss treatments', especially when it comes to autoimmune alopecia.

There are currently no MHRA licensed or FDA-approved treatments for alopecia areata in any of its various phenotypes. However, there is only one clinically-proven, topical treatment for genetic hair loss in both men and women and it is widely understood by professionals to have possible applications outside this scope. Belgravia's hair loss experts have used it to significant effect in many clients with the scalp-only form of Alopecia Areata, examples of which can be seen in the dedicated Alopecia Areata Success Stories gallery.

This solution is available to medically-suitable people who are 16 years of age and over, and is generally used as part of a custom treatment course personalised to the needs of each individual with additional hair growth boosters where appropriate.

Alopecia Areata in this mild to moderate form when it only affects the scalp can often clear up of its own accord, usually within a year. Its more severe phenotypes - Alopecia Totalis and Universalis - cause the whole head to become hairless, and baldness from head to toe, respectively. These versions currently have no truly effective treatment options and if or when hair regrowth may resume is impossible to predict.

Commonly touted 'natural hairloss remedies' tend to involve drinking certain teas - for instance, green tea - or applying certain foodstuffs directly to the scalp - onions and turmeric being two of the most frequently asked about on the Belgravia blog. Whilst these suggested 'magic cures' are unlikely to be remotely effective at regrowing hair, they are often harmless, though this is not always the case so caution is always recommended.

It is obviously beneficial to follow a balanced diet and healthy lifestyle as good nutrition can contribute to the normal functioning of various bodily systems, including the hair growth cycle. Sadly though, this does not mean that certain foods or drinks will cure hair loss - it simply means the hair you have should look and feel healthier. If you are looking to regrow hair lost to a medical hair loss condition such as alopecia areata, then we are certain that having a professional consultation with a specialist is a better place to start than detox tea.