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- Apr 5, 2016
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- 1,665
I've been suffering with hair loss for about three years, it was the deterioration of my hair that was the first thing that made me realize I was unhealthy and what initially led me to the works of Danny Roddy and then Ray peat. Since adapting to a ray peat style of eating I have greatly improved the quality of my hair. However, I have struggled to achieve any regrowth. I have been using LLLT therapy for about 2 years and while that has improved my hair it has not given me any significant regrowth. Admittedly I am still in the process of fully recovering from years of chronic stress that led to my hair loss so there may be some factors internally that I have yet to rectify. Having said that I would like to explore the aspects of Scalp massage and certain topicals treatments for hair loss.
Aspirin, Prostaglandins Niacinamide & Caffeine
I've seen mention on these forums of Aspirin, Niacinamide and caffeine as a possible treatments for hair loss. Does anyone have any anecdotal experience that they could offer? I take all three of these ingredients internally daily so my curiosity is as to whether they are affective as a topical treatment. I know that Sol-Ban contains these ingredients.
Aspirin:
My thoughts are that the aspirin obviously would be good because of its affect on reducing prostaglandins in particular PGD2 however there are some theories of hair regrowth that claim that while PGD2 is bad for hair, prostaglandin PGE2 is vital for hair regrowth and since aspirin reduces both PGD2 and PGE2 it might stop hair loss but would prevent any significant regrowth.
Prostaglandins
I would note that I have yet to come across a solid explanation as to how PGE2 facilitaes hair growth. The only evidence I have been able to find is that those who do not suffer hair loss have a higher ratio of PGE2 to PGD2. This is obviously an insufficient explanation because as we all know correlation does not prove causation and I have yet to discover in my research the biomechanical process by which PGE2 would theoretically facilitate hair growth.
Niacinamide & Caffeine
I do not know what the mechanism is by which topical niacinamide & caffeine support hair growth. I would assume that is by reducing levels of certain stress hormones and helping to restore oxidative metabolism. However, if this is the case surely doing making this effect systemic throughout the body via oral supplementation would be as effective as topical application for hair growth?
Scalp Massage
The last thing I want to talk about is scalp massage for hair loss. I started doing this a few weeks ago after coming across a blog post where a guy claimed to have regrown his hair by aggressively massaging his scalp two times a day with a specific technique. He calls the method Detumescence therapy which he discovered from an e-book and links to a 2012 Hong Kong University paper by Henry Choy. Link to Paper. The paper has a similar theory to the ivory dome theory of hair loss.
Quotes from Blog Post
"Choy theorizes that hair loss is primarily caused by thickening and hardening of the scalp, and that bald people have a more “dome-like” head shape because of trapped sebum. In a 100 person experiment (50 men and 50 women of various ages, ethnicities, and % of hair loss), Choy applied “detumescence therapy” over a ten monthly period to expel excess sebum, reshape the scalp, soften the scalp skin, and eventually regrow the subjects’ hair. The treatment involved two twenty-minute scalp massage sessions daily, during which the scalp was pressed on, kneaded, and rubbed."
"Choy claimed amazing results: ALL the subjects regrew 90% of their hair.Dormant hair follicles came back to life. The first new hair growth was observed around month five of the massage therapy."
Would love to know peoples thoughts on this theory as well as the study. I've read through it and I can find any issues with it but someone else might. Also I know of no other study with regards to hair loss and scalp massage.
Recap
Aspirin, Prostaglandins Niacinamide & Caffeine
I've seen mention on these forums of Aspirin, Niacinamide and caffeine as a possible treatments for hair loss. Does anyone have any anecdotal experience that they could offer? I take all three of these ingredients internally daily so my curiosity is as to whether they are affective as a topical treatment. I know that Sol-Ban contains these ingredients.
Aspirin:
My thoughts are that the aspirin obviously would be good because of its affect on reducing prostaglandins in particular PGD2 however there are some theories of hair regrowth that claim that while PGD2 is bad for hair, prostaglandin PGE2 is vital for hair regrowth and since aspirin reduces both PGD2 and PGE2 it might stop hair loss but would prevent any significant regrowth.
Prostaglandins
I would note that I have yet to come across a solid explanation as to how PGE2 facilitaes hair growth. The only evidence I have been able to find is that those who do not suffer hair loss have a higher ratio of PGE2 to PGD2. This is obviously an insufficient explanation because as we all know correlation does not prove causation and I have yet to discover in my research the biomechanical process by which PGE2 would theoretically facilitate hair growth.
Niacinamide & Caffeine
I do not know what the mechanism is by which topical niacinamide & caffeine support hair growth. I would assume that is by reducing levels of certain stress hormones and helping to restore oxidative metabolism. However, if this is the case surely doing making this effect systemic throughout the body via oral supplementation would be as effective as topical application for hair growth?
Scalp Massage
The last thing I want to talk about is scalp massage for hair loss. I started doing this a few weeks ago after coming across a blog post where a guy claimed to have regrown his hair by aggressively massaging his scalp two times a day with a specific technique. He calls the method Detumescence therapy which he discovered from an e-book and links to a 2012 Hong Kong University paper by Henry Choy. Link to Paper. The paper has a similar theory to the ivory dome theory of hair loss.
Quotes from Blog Post
"Choy theorizes that hair loss is primarily caused by thickening and hardening of the scalp, and that bald people have a more “dome-like” head shape because of trapped sebum. In a 100 person experiment (50 men and 50 women of various ages, ethnicities, and % of hair loss), Choy applied “detumescence therapy” over a ten monthly period to expel excess sebum, reshape the scalp, soften the scalp skin, and eventually regrow the subjects’ hair. The treatment involved two twenty-minute scalp massage sessions daily, during which the scalp was pressed on, kneaded, and rubbed."
"Choy claimed amazing results: ALL the subjects regrew 90% of their hair.Dormant hair follicles came back to life. The first new hair growth was observed around month five of the massage therapy."
Would love to know peoples thoughts on this theory as well as the study. I've read through it and I can find any issues with it but someone else might. Also I know of no other study with regards to hair loss and scalp massage.
Recap
- Is aspirin good for hair REGROWTH? Does it matter that it reduces PGE2?
- How do TOPICAL Caffeine and Niacinamide help for hair growth?
- What are your thoughts on Scalp Massage for hair growth?
- Do you think Henry Choy's paper is valid?
- Do you think Henry Choy's explanation for hair loss is accurate.