Nearly half of all men experience some level of hair thinning as they age. Globally, Spanish men lead the statistics with just under 45% experiencing male pattern baldness by the time they hit 50 – that’s in contrast to 40% of us fortunate Brits.
So it may not come as a shock that a Spanish doctor has developed an effective treatment for this often troubling issue. And the best part? The key ingredient is likely to already be in your kitchen cupboard.
Ignacio Sevilla, a Madrid-based doctor and hair expert, reveals that coffee is the answer: “Caffeine combined with other ingredients can promote hair growth.”
Coffee has a number of proven health benefits including, it has emerged, a cure for baldness
(Image: Getty Images)
But the doc doesn’t think you can fix baldness with a cappuccino; instead, he suggests applying coffee directly to the scalp. Dr Sevilla refers to several studies backing his claim: “Topically applied caffeine can counteract the negative effects of dihydrotestosterone, prolonging the anagen phase and stimulating hair growth,” reports Surrey Live.
His colleague, Dr. Virginia Velasco, a dermatologist and trichologist at the Dr Morales Raya Clinic in Madrid, concurs with Dr Sevilla’s observations: “Caffeine has a vasodilatory, antioxidant effect and has been shown to reverse the miniaturisation of hair that occurs in androgenic alopecia,” she notes.
She further mentions: “Studies have concluded that the application of 0.2 percent caffeine is just as effective as one of the most potent existing alopecia treatments, which is 5 percent minoxidil for topical use.”
Hair loss can be a painful and emotionally difficult experience for men. It can affect their self-esteem, confidence, and even lead to depression
(Image: Getty Images)
Dr Sevilla also highlights that there are several other active ingredients that can work in conjunction with caffeine to combat hair loss. For instance, he mentions that Retinol can enhance the penetration of other topical treatments such as minoxidil, while also promoting cell renewal of the scalp and improving follicular health.
However, he cautions that it 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 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. He also suggests Maca, an adaptogen that enhances the body’s response to stress, one of the factors that can instigate hair loss. Other potential aids to maintaining a full head of hair include pumpkin seed oil.
However, the doctor notes, its inclusion in hair products is still at a preliminary stage, and currently lacks the robust scientific backing that other ingredients possess.