Argan oil is a natural product that has been used for centuries to treat a variety of hair problems. It is said to be beneficial for both the scalp and the hair shaft and can help to keep hair healthy and shiny. Argan oil is also said to be helpful in preventing hair loss. But does it really work? Let’s take a closer look.
Common causes of hair loss
Hair loss can be divided into two main types:
· Hair loss can sometimes be caused by an underlying medical condition, so it is important to rule out possible causes. If you have hair loss, it can help to keep a diary of when the hair falls out and look for any patterns. For example, do you notice that the hair tends to fall out after brushing, washing or sleeping?
· If there are no obvious patterns in your hair loss then it is probably caused by something that you can control i.e. factors that can be avoided or changed. For example, long-term use of heat can lead to damage to the hair shafts and can cause temporary hair loss. If you can avoid heat then this can prevent further damage.
Types of hair loss
Hair can fall out for a variety of reasons including:
· Male pattern baldness or androgenic alopecia
· Alopecia areata – this is an autoimmune disease that can cause hair to shed quickly. Usually, the hair will grow back after a period of time but in some cases it can lead to total baldness
· Traction alopecia – this can be caused by hairstyles such as tight ponytails and braids, especially when they are worn over a long period of time
· Trichotillomania – this can cause hair loss and can be brought on by stress. The process can become addictive and can lead to more severe hair loss and bald spots
· Scarring alopecia – inflammation of the follicles can damage the hair shafts so that they can no longer grow. This can be caused by infections, an autoimmune disease. It can sometimes occur after certain types of hair transplant surgery
· Telogen effluvium – this is when there is a normal loss of hair but it can increase dramatically due to stress. For example, if you had an illness that required admission into hospital the stress can lead to a shedding of hair. This can continue long after the illness has passed.
· Trichotillomania – this can cause hair loss and can be brought on by stress. The process can become addictive and can lead to more severe hair loss and bald spots
Can argan oil cause hair loss?
There is no evidence to suggest that argan oil causes hair loss. In fact, several studies show the opposite. A 2013 study by Pamella Mello Faria and colleagues at the Pharmacy School, University of Santo Amaro found that argan reduced the loss of protein in hair.
A 2018 study by Zoubida Charrouf and Dominique Guillaume found that argan had moisturizing/revitalizing effects and anti-hair loss activity. They observed significant anti-hair loss activity on women who consumed or applied argan oil.
It can be difficult to say for certain whether argan oil can cause hair loss. More research is needed in this area and there have been no studies that can conclusively prove that argan oil can cause hair loss.
Based on the available evidence it seems unlikely that argan oil can lead to hair loss. Argan oil has been used for centuries and can be seen as a natural treatment. Dome people can find argan oil irritating and can experience an allergic reaction. If this is the case then it can cause inflammation and can speed up hair loss in certain cases.
If you are worried about your hair loss then you should talk to your doctor who can determine whether argan oil can cause hair loss. Argan oil can be beneficial for some types of hair problems but can actually lead to hair loss in rare cases.
Resources
https://www.scirp.org/html/36776.html
https://www.ocl-journal.org/articles/ocl/full_html/2018/02/ocl170051/ocl170051.html
