Nearly half of all men experience some degree of balding as they age, and while Spanish men are at the forefront with almost 45% experiencing male pattern hair loss by age 50—just ahead of the UK’s 40%—it might be fitting that a remedy has been pioneered by a Spaniard. Tucked away in most people’s kitchens could be the simple solution to this prevalent issue.
Madrid-based doctor and hair expert Ignacio Sevilla asserts: “Caffeine combined with other ingredients can promote hair growth.”
However, the method isn’t as simple as chugging a cup of java; it involves massaging coffee into one’s scalp. Dr Sevilla references various studies supporting his claim: “Topically applied caffeine can counteract the negative effects of dihydrotestosterone, prolonging the anagen phase and stimulating hair growth.”
Coffee has a number of proven health benefits including, it has emerged, a cure for baldness
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Echoing Sevilla’s remarks is his associate, dermatologist and trichologist Dr. Virginia Velasco from the Dr. Morales Raya Clinic, also in Madrid. She says: “Caffeine has a vasodilatory, antioxidant effect and has been shown to reverse the miniaturisation of hair that occurs in androgenic alopecia,”
Dr Velasco elaborates on the research findings, stating: “Studies have concluded that the application of 0.2 percent caffeine is not inferior to applying one of the most effective treatments for alopecia, which is 5 percent minoxidil for topical use.”
Dr. Sevilla also highlights that there are several other active ingredients that can work in conjunction with caffeine to fight hair loss. For instance, he mentions Retinol as a substance that can enhance the penetration of other topical treatments like minoxidil, while also promoting cell renewal of the scalp and improving follicular health, reports Surrey Live.
Hair loss can be a painful and emotionally difficult experience for men. It can affect their self-esteem, confidence, and even lead to depression
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However, he cautions that Retinol should be used carefully, as it can cause irritation in high doses. Dr Sevilla names Saw Palmetto, Copper peptides and Niacinamide as key allies in caffeine’s battle against baldness.
He suggests that there is a vast array of other chemicals that could help maintain men’s hairlines, including Quinine, which acts as a scalp stimulant and can promote microcirculation by improving the delivery of nutrients to the follicle, and Maca, an adaptogen that enhances the body’s response to stress, a factor that can induce hair loss. Other potential aids for maintaining a full head of hair include pumpkin seed oil.
However, the doctor notes, its use in hair products is still in its infancy, and currently lacks the robust scientific backing that other ingredients possess.