Tom Branna, Editorial Director12.01.22
Hair loss is a growing problem around the world. According to some experts, as many as two-thirds of men under age 35 suffer some sort of hair loss. And while many people believe that hair loss only affects men, experts estimate more than 50% of women will experience noticeable hair loss.
No surprise, then, that the global market for alopecia treatments is growing 5.1% a year and will reach $13.8 billion by 2028, according to a study by Reports and Data. Although finasteride is the best-known ingredient to treat hair loss, there are other options. One option is carbonic acid shampoo.
Traditional shampoos remove sebum and particles from hair strands. Carbonic acid-based shampoo goes several steps further. It removes dirt from the scalp, unclogs pores, keeps the scalp clean and helps hair grow. A healthy scalp is crucial to healthy hair.
With regular use, carbonic acid shampoos are said to:
• Add moisture to hair;
• Add volume to hair;
• Clean the scalp;
• Improve oxygen supply to repair damage;
• Make hair shiny and silky;
• Reduce sebum production;
• Strengthen hair structure; and
• Unclog pores.
Carbonic acid is also said to block dihydrotestosterone (DHT). DHT is an androgen. This sex hormone contributes to the development of male sex characteristics, including body hair. It can also accelerate hair loss. DHT can link to receptors on scalp hair follicles, causing them to shrink and become less capable of supporting a healthy head of hair. But by blocking DHT, carbonic acid deters hair loss. Many carbonic acid shampoos also contain ketoconazole, a known DHT blocker. Ketoconazole is best-known for its anti-fungal properties, but it has been shown to disrupt the DHT pathways and prevent DHT from attaching to hair follicles.
Other ingredients that may reduce hair loss include:
• Vitamin B7. Better known as biotin, it doesn’t block DHT, but biotin is an important ingredient in hair growth. DHT-blocking shampoos that include biotin may help promote overall hair growth in areas already affected by loss and thinning, according to experts at Nutrafol, a leading hair care company that offers ingestible and topical treatments for hair loss and thinning. Ingestible products for hair, skin, nails and more continue to be a growing market sector.
• Pumpkin seed oil. A natural material that blocks enzymes from producing DHT from testosterone, which can lower DHT levels and reduce hair loss. One study found that pumpkin seed oil has been known to increase the overall hair count on the scalp.
• Rosemary oil. This fragrant oil can increase hair growth by improving the scalp’s circulation, which can also treat an itchy scalp.
Another cause of hair loss is hair follicles being plugged by sebum. Carbonic acid shampoos break up the plugs and lift them from hair roots. It leaves the scalp healthy and clean, and it doesn’t damage hair.
Experts say carbonic acid shampoos can be used every day. With a pH of 5.5. (the same pH as skin), carbonic acid is very mild. With regular use, carbonic acid cleans hair, breaks up sebum deposits and improves blood circulation to boost hair growth, according to experts.
Popular carbonic acid shampoos include:
• Fortero Carbonic Acid Shampoo for Hair Growth and Treating Hair Loss
• Hims Thick Fix Hair Shampoo
• Neutrogena T/Sal Therapeutic Shampoo for Scalp Build-Up Control
• Nioxin System 2 Cleanser Shampoo
• Nizoral Anti-Dandruff Shampoo
• Pura D’Or Orginal Gold Label Anti-Thinning Biotin Shampoo
• Pura D’Or Professional Grade Anti-Thinning Biotin Shampoo & Conditioner Set
• Redken All Soft Shampoo
• Vanidox Carbonic Acid Shampoo for Men and Women
Experts at Nutrafol note that shampoo generally has a short amount of contact with the scalp. They recommend leaving the shampoo in for a few minutes before rinsing. Other tips include using the shampoo twice a day, unless the label indicates otherwise. If not, using a carbonic acid-based shampoo twice a day allows more contact between the shampoo and the scalp.
Finally, Nutrafol experts suggest taking a DHT blocker supplement. The dietary supplement can block and lower DHT to promote hair growth. Though marketed as DHT blockers, they don’t actually block DHT. The ingredients block the enzyme that produces DHT; blocking that enzyme, in turn, reduces DHT levels. Together, DHT blockers and shampoos can often result in even better results and healthy hair follicles, according to Nutrafol.
The company produces a range of hair growth nutraceuticals targeted for the scalp. Nutrafol Men is physician formulated to improve hair growth with visible thickness and better scalp coverage by multi-targeting root causes of thinning, using natural ingredients that support whole-body health. The formula includes saw palmetto, ashwagandha extract and L-cysteine and L-lysine.
No surprise, then, that the global market for alopecia treatments is growing 5.1% a year and will reach $13.8 billion by 2028, according to a study by Reports and Data. Although finasteride is the best-known ingredient to treat hair loss, there are other options. One option is carbonic acid shampoo.
What is Carbonic Acid Shampoo?
Traditional shampoos remove sebum and particles from hair strands. Carbonic acid-based shampoo goes several steps further. It removes dirt from the scalp, unclogs pores, keeps the scalp clean and helps hair grow. A healthy scalp is crucial to healthy hair.
With regular use, carbonic acid shampoos are said to:
• Add moisture to hair;
• Add volume to hair;
• Clean the scalp;
• Improve oxygen supply to repair damage;
• Make hair shiny and silky;
• Reduce sebum production;
• Strengthen hair structure; and
• Unclog pores.
Carbonic Acid as a DHT Blocker
Carbonic acid is also said to block dihydrotestosterone (DHT). DHT is an androgen. This sex hormone contributes to the development of male sex characteristics, including body hair. It can also accelerate hair loss. DHT can link to receptors on scalp hair follicles, causing them to shrink and become less capable of supporting a healthy head of hair. But by blocking DHT, carbonic acid deters hair loss. Many carbonic acid shampoos also contain ketoconazole, a known DHT blocker. Ketoconazole is best-known for its anti-fungal properties, but it has been shown to disrupt the DHT pathways and prevent DHT from attaching to hair follicles.
Other ingredients that may reduce hair loss include:
• Vitamin B7. Better known as biotin, it doesn’t block DHT, but biotin is an important ingredient in hair growth. DHT-blocking shampoos that include biotin may help promote overall hair growth in areas already affected by loss and thinning, according to experts at Nutrafol, a leading hair care company that offers ingestible and topical treatments for hair loss and thinning. Ingestible products for hair, skin, nails and more continue to be a growing market sector.
• Pumpkin seed oil. A natural material that blocks enzymes from producing DHT from testosterone, which can lower DHT levels and reduce hair loss. One study found that pumpkin seed oil has been known to increase the overall hair count on the scalp.
• Rosemary oil. This fragrant oil can increase hair growth by improving the scalp’s circulation, which can also treat an itchy scalp.
How Carbonic Acid Works on the Scalp
Another cause of hair loss is hair follicles being plugged by sebum. Carbonic acid shampoos break up the plugs and lift them from hair roots. It leaves the scalp healthy and clean, and it doesn’t damage hair.
Experts say carbonic acid shampoos can be used every day. With a pH of 5.5. (the same pH as skin), carbonic acid is very mild. With regular use, carbonic acid cleans hair, breaks up sebum deposits and improves blood circulation to boost hair growth, according to experts.
Popular carbonic acid shampoos include:
• Fortero Carbonic Acid Shampoo for Hair Growth and Treating Hair Loss
• Hims Thick Fix Hair Shampoo
• Neutrogena T/Sal Therapeutic Shampoo for Scalp Build-Up Control
• Nioxin System 2 Cleanser Shampoo
• Nizoral Anti-Dandruff Shampoo
• Pura D’Or Orginal Gold Label Anti-Thinning Biotin Shampoo
• Pura D’Or Professional Grade Anti-Thinning Biotin Shampoo & Conditioner Set
• Redken All Soft Shampoo
• Vanidox Carbonic Acid Shampoo for Men and Women
Experts at Nutrafol note that shampoo generally has a short amount of contact with the scalp. They recommend leaving the shampoo in for a few minutes before rinsing. Other tips include using the shampoo twice a day, unless the label indicates otherwise. If not, using a carbonic acid-based shampoo twice a day allows more contact between the shampoo and the scalp.
Finally, Nutrafol experts suggest taking a DHT blocker supplement. The dietary supplement can block and lower DHT to promote hair growth. Though marketed as DHT blockers, they don’t actually block DHT. The ingredients block the enzyme that produces DHT; blocking that enzyme, in turn, reduces DHT levels. Together, DHT blockers and shampoos can often result in even better results and healthy hair follicles, according to Nutrafol.
The company produces a range of hair growth nutraceuticals targeted for the scalp. Nutrafol Men is physician formulated to improve hair growth with visible thickness and better scalp coverage by multi-targeting root causes of thinning, using natural ingredients that support whole-body health. The formula includes saw palmetto, ashwagandha extract and L-cysteine and L-lysine.