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Does Avacor Work as a Hair Loss Treatment - Sunday, February 10, 2008

Avacor as a Hair Loss Treatment

There are a number of products that claim to work as a treatment for hair loss.  Whereas there is no question that marketing tends to over-reach in order to sell a product, the real question that any hair loss sufferer asks is: will this product help fight against baldness or is there any chance that it will help regrow hair?  To date however, it is important to understand that there is no hair loss cure, therefore realistic expectations must be kept when considering any hair restoration remedy.

Below I decided to take a look at a popular treatment that is said to combat hair loss called Avacor.

Avacor sells a number of products, one of which is a topical formula containing minoxidil (which has been FDA approved for hair loss) that is applied to the scalp. Directions indicate to apply to the scalp 1ml twice daily, once in the morning, and once in the evening for maximum benefit.

Avacor also sells Nutricap, an herbal supplement to work along side the topical solution designed to deliver nutrients to the hair follicle keeping it healthy. Directions indicate to take two capsules daily, one in the morning, and one in the evening.

In order to determine whether or not this hair loss product is an effective hair loss treatment, we have to break it down into its parts or ingredients.

Topical Solution Active Ingredients:

Minoxodil 5% (or 2% for women)

Avacor advertises on their website and infomercials that their product is FDA approved for hair loss. This is only true because it contains the FDA approved ingredient minoxidil (same active ingredient in Rogaine) in their topical solution. Because minoxidil has been proven as an effective hair loss drug, one must conclude therefore that topical Avacor is an effective hair loss treatment.

Oral Solution Active Ingredients:

Saw Palmetto

Saw Palmetto is said to be an inhibitor of Dihydrotestosterone (DHT).  These berries are a deep red fruit that grows wild on palm trees in warmer climates typically found in the Southeastern United States.  Saw Palmetto liposerolic extract is typically used as an herbal supplement for the promotion of a healthy prostate. 

Studies have shown that saw palmetto taken orally is an effective anti-androgen in that it lowers DHT levels in the body by blocking 5 alpha-reductase enzymes however; no formal tests have been performed on saw palmetto and its relation to hair growth.

Learn more about Saw Palmetto.

Grape Seed Extract

Grape seed extract is a strong antioxidant that has been used to remedy conditions such as blood circulation problems, cardiac and cerebral circulation conditions, vision troubles, capillaries, and finally hair loss. The oil from the seeds of the grapes is rich with vitamin E and fatty acids.

Though a certain study indicates that grape seed extract can increase the rate/speed of hair growth in lab animals, to date, there have been no formal studies on grape seek extract as a treatment for hair loss.

Ginkgo Biloba

Ginkgo Biloba is used an antioxidant which improves circulation, overall brain function, and the nervous system. It has been used as a supplement to reduce the symptoms of depression, Alzheimer’s, blood circulation issues, and visual problems. Other uses of this herbal supplement include treating heart disease, dementia, leg cramps, stroke, poor blood flow, diabetes, and impotence.

In my research, there is mention that Ginkgo Biloba may help promote healthy hair growth and may protect men against hair loss however; I have not found any studies confirming that Ginkgo Biloba is an effective hair loss treatment. It appears that many who believe that Androgenetic Alopecia (genetic hair loss) is tied to poor circulation are seemingly firm believers that Ginkgo Biloba can be an effective hair loss treatment. Though certain hair loss conditions may be tied to poor circulation, typical male or female pattern hair loss is not.

Horsetail

Horsetail is an herb rich of silica and must be taken in an aqueous extract of the herb only as it can be toxic if the herb it taken as a whole. Horsetail is said to encourage hair growth by promoting blood circulation to the scalp, unclogging the pores.

Horsetail, containing selenium and silicon is said to promote circulation to the scalp and therefore help maintain hair. However, genetic hair loss is not as a result of poor circulation to the scalp, but a condition caused by the genes and facilitated by the hormone dihydrotestosterone (DHT). In my research, I have not found any studies that indicate horsetail is an effective hair loss treatment.

Bilberry

Bilberry extracts have proven to improve microcapillary circulation and also strengthen collagen throughout the body. In my research, I have not found any studies that indicate horsetail is an effective hair loss treatment.

Gelatin

Gelatin is a protein produced by hydrolysis of collagen extracted from the bones, organs, and connective tissues.

According to one source, a double blind study found that long term oral use of 18,000 IE retinol, 70mg L-cystine and 700 mg gelatin led to an improvement in those suffering from diffuse pattern hair loss relative to the controls. Not a lot of detail was provided on this study and since gelatin was not the only thing tested, it’s efficacy as a stand alone treatment for hair loss is questionable.

There is no doubt that protein is good for the body and hair, but I have yet to find any compelling evidence that gelatin is an effective hair loss treatment.

Olive Oil

In researching Olive Oil for hair loss, a number of sites seem to present a holistic approach to hair loss that recommends massaging olive oil into your hair; wrapping your head in a towel and leaving it sit for 30 minutes. This remedy is said to increase circulation and encourage healthy hair growth. Despite any attempts to find clinical evidence of its efficacy as a hair loss treatment, I have not found any.

Shampoos, Thickeners, etc:

Avacor offers a number of other products including Boost hair thickening serum, a detoxifying, therapy, and thickening shampoo, conditioner, and styling gel. Many of these products are bundled with the topical and oral solution when purchased. As indicated on Avacor's website, these products help to clean the scalp and/or volumize the hair. Nothing on Avacor's website states that these products combat against hair loss.

Cost:

The average cost of Avacor per month is $60 which includes all of their products including the topical solution, oral Nutricap supplement, both the scalp detoxifying and therapy shampoos, and hair thickening serum. The cost of FDA approved generic minoxidil runs at approximately $10 per month.

Conclusions:

Topical Avacor contains FDA approved ingredient minoxidil therefore, in itself; it can be an effective hair loss treatment. Oral Nutricap contains a number of herbal ingredients that have been speculated to combat hair loss. However, until clinical studies are performed on each of these supplements, its efficacy and dosage are at best, conjecture.