Caffeine shows promise for hair loss, but evidence remains preliminary
A systematic review identified nine studies—five randomized controlled trials, three prospective cohorts and one twin‑twin cohort—evaluating caffeine interventions for hair loss. Most investigated topical formulations; one study examined oral intake. Across studies, topical caffeine was consistently associated with either increased hair growth measures or reduced hair loss and reported few adverse effects, suggesting a favorable safety profile. However, study quality and methods varied, key objective measures were often lacking (notably, none used tattooed or marked scalp areas for hair counts), and sample sizes were small.
Clinical takeaway for the dermatologist: topical caffeine appears safe and may be a reasonable adjunctive, over‑the‑counter option for patients seeking non‑prescription therapies, but expectations should be tempered by limited high‑quality evidence.
If you offer or recommend topical caffeine, document baseline hair counts with reproducible methods, monitor response systematically, and counsel patients that larger, standardized randomized trials are still needed to confirm efficacy and define optimal formulations and regimens.
J Drugs Dermatol. 2025;24(11):1070-1074. doi:10.36849/JDD.8902
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