The Average Treatment for Hair Loss May Be Ineffective

The experts say that the average over-the-counter treatment for hair loss (alopecia) is no more effective than a placebo. A placebo is something like a sugar pill. It doesn't really "do" anything. But, if people are convinced that it will work, then sometimes it does.

The placebo effect is something that doctors understand well. They use it in their practices on a regular basis. When there are no effective treatments for a condition, they often prescribe something anyway either to make their patients feel better or just to get them out of the office.

There are effective treatments for most kinds of alopecia and they are available without a prescription. It's just that there is a lot of snake oil on the market, too.

• Works instantly! Nothing works instantly. Human hairs go through cycles of rest and regrowth. It will take at least a few weeks to see any results and it can take as long as two years to see optimal results, depending on the degree of baldness.

• Just spray it on! While a topically applied solution can be an effective treatment for hair loss, it will need to be massaged into the scalp. Spraying something on to your hair, regardless of the ingredients, will have no long-term effect, because the ingredients will not penetrate.

• Ancient secret! There are some herbal supplements that have proven effectiveness, but there are plenty of others that are ineffective. He shou wu, ginkgo biloba and green tea are examples of herbal remedies that have no proven effectiveness for alopecia.

Some other products that you will encounter include shampoos with caffeine, spray-on coffee bean extracts and lots of "protein-enriched" hair care creams and ointments. While protein is one of the building blocks of human hairs, applying it topically has never been proven effective.

That's really what you want to look for when you are shopping for a treatment for hair loss. You want to look for something that has been proven effective.
 
Manufacturers are not required to prove that their products are effective before they put them on the market. Some products are eventually proven ineffective and companies are reprimanded, but people don't get their money back.

The "laser combs" are examples of products that have never been proven effective as a treatment for hair loss. Companies that manufacturer them have been reprimanded by the Australian government.

In the US, they are allowed to remain on the market, without proof of safety or effectiveness, because they are similar to products that were produced prior to 1976. It's a loophole in the law that allows manufacturers to sell therapeutic devices, without applying for FDA approval.

There are only two treatments that have FDA approval. One is a drug that is accompanied by serious side effects. The other is a topically applied solution that is available without a prescription.

In order to obtain FDA approval, there must be clinical trials to prove the effectiveness of a treatment for hair loss. So, an FDA approval is something "good" to look for.

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