What treatments are available for women with thinning hair?

FROM ENGLAND Hair loss doesn’t just affect men – 40 per cent of women over 35 are affected by thinning hair. Zoe Strimpel gives the lowdown on what treatments are available and Dr Toby Murcott looks at the scientific evidence behind them

REGAINE SCALP SOLUTION FOR WOMEN
What is it? A spray containing an active ingredient, minoxidil, which the manufacturers claim increases the supply of blood and nutrients to hair follicles, stimulating growth.
What science says There is good evidence that minoxidil reduces male and female-pattern baldness. Treatment needs to be continued, perhaps for life, as new hair is lost within months if it stops.
Cost £24.95; Boots.com

HAIRBEAM LASER COMB
What is it? A comb-like object that uses infrared lasers to penetrate the scalp and stimulate hair follicles.
What science says A different type of medical laser has some success in treating alopecia areata, patchy hair loss, but scientists are unclearhow it works. There is no evidence that Hairbeam is effective for normal-pattern hair loss. A 2007 report found no reliable studies of laser-based devices.
Cost £495; www.versacchi-ireland.com

NOURKRIN
What is it? A range of products – scalp lotion, shampoo, conditioner and supplements – containing a marine protein extract to stimulate hair regrowth. Also claims to stimulate blood flow in the scalp.
What science says A single 2006 trial of 55 people found that Nourkrin supplements did reduce hair loss over a six-month period. While an indication that it might work, this is far from conclusive; more trials would be needed.
Cost £19.95 for lotion, £8.50 each for shampoo and conditioner, £35.99 for 60 tablets; hairthinning.co.uk

PLANTUR 39 SHAMPOO
What is it? A caffeine-based shampoo that claims to counteract the effects of postmenopausal hormone imbalance. It stops dihydrotestosterone (DHT), the hormone largely responsible for hair loss, from attacking the hair follicles.
What science says Test-tube studies suggest that caffeine stimulates the growth of hair follicles. Further data reveals that caffeine can penetrate the scalp and hair follicles when applied as a shampoo. This suggests that caffeine may boost the number of hair follicles in a real-life situation, but there are no clinical trials of this particular shampoo.
Cost From £8.99; pureandgentleskincare.com

REVIVOGEN
What is it? Topical mixture aiming to block the production of dihydrotestosterone (DHT).
What science says This contains many different ingredients intended to reduce DHT. While there is evidence that they do in the lab, there is none that this formulation works in real life.
Cost £65 for three months’ supply; expresschemist.co.uk

TRICOMIN SHAMPOO, CONDITIONER AND FOLLICLE HAIRSPRAY
What is it? A copper-based range of products that claim to inhibit DHT.
What science says There is some evidence that copper does this in the test tube, but there are no independent clinical trials demonstrating this in real people.
Cost £59.99 for spray, shampoo and conditioner; www.tricotec.co.uk

FOLTÈNE HAIR & SCALP TREATMENT
What is it? The active ingredient here is tricosaccaride, a naturally occurring chemical in skin tissue, thought to stimulate hair growth. The treatment claims to extend the hair’s growth phase and reduce the percentage of hair lost in the shedding phase.
What science says One 1987 trial of 30 men with various types of hair loss suggested that this treatment reduces hair loss. This is insufficient evidence to say much more than it has potential and further trials are required.
Cost £23.95; beautystoreonline.co.uk

BOOTS EXPERT HAIR LOSS TREATMENT SPRAY FOR WOMEN
What is it? Much publicised spray based on a complex extracted from Costa Rican coffee beans and Indian pennywort. The claim is that together they work to slow down hair thinning, encourage thicker hair, and boost the overall feel and condition of the hair.
What science says There is evidence that caffeine can reduce the amount of DHT in the test tube, but none from clinical trials. There is no known link between the other ingredients and hair loss.
Cost £19.99; Boots.com

NANOGEN HAIR THICKENING SPRAY
What is it? A topical range that uses pantothenic acid and water to make the hair swell as the water is forced to the centre of the hair shaft.
What science says There is evidence that some of the ingredients do this, but no research demonstrating that this approach is effective.
Cost £7.62; www.nanogen.co.uk