Caffeine can stimulate hair sac growth, scientists at the University of Jena in Germany have found, which may provide a new way for many men to treat baldness. British men suffer more from baldness than other Europeans, according to a recent survey of five European countries. More than half of men said baldness made them feel older and less attractive.
Caffeine stops the effects of a chemical that damages hair follicles, but drinking large amounts of coffee is not recommended to treat hair loss because they estimate it takes up to 60 cups a day to have a significant effect on hair follicles, scientists found in a new study. But Alpecin, a German cosmetics company, has developed caffeine-rich solutions that can be applied to the scalp.
Dr Fischer, who led the study, said: "Caffeine is a well-known substance, but we know very little about its effects on hair follicle growth in humans. "
Most people lose their hair due to growing hair sacs and exposure to excessive levels of the male hormone dihydrotestosterone. When there is a high level of DHT in the blood, the hair sacs shrink, resulting in thinner hair and shorter lifespan.
