Hair loss is something that millions of men and women all over the world must deal with, but there are ways that it can be treated.

There are a number of hair loss shampoos such as Nisim, Thymyuskin that can help, including Nizoral shampoo, which has been proven effective in the treatment of hair loss in both men and women.

This shampoo is actually marketed as an antifungal shampoo used to treat dandruff, but it has been found that it can also treat hair loss.

What Is Nizoral Shampoo?

Nizoral is a shampoo with androgen blocking properties, which makes it very effective in the fight against premature baldness.

An androgen blocker inhibits hair loss caused by hormone activity in the scalp. If this is not treated, inflammation begins, which can cause itching, tingling and irritation in the scalp. This can be quite painful, and the itching can be extremely annoying and lead to hair loss. It is important to begin hair loss treatments before it gets to this point.

It is extremely important to make sure that your scalp is healthy, and if you are experiencing hair loss, Nizoral should be a part of your regular hair care routine.

Nizoral Shampoo Ingredients

There are two types of Nizoral shampoos: a 1% solution that is available over-the-counter and a 2% solution that is available by prescription only.

It is best to stick with the 1% solution, as it provides pretty much the same benefits, and is healthier for the liver when used over time.

The active ingredient is ketoconazole, and there are 2mg in each gram of shampoo. Other ingredients include coconut fatty acid, sodium lauryl ether sulphate, sodium hydroxide, sodium chloride and purified water.

Ketoconazole

The active agent in Nizoral shampoo is ketoconazole.

Ketoconazole was discovered in 1976 and released as an oral medication in 1981. It was one of the first oral anti-fungal drugs to be developed. Since then ketoconazole has also been released as a topical formulation.

Oral ketoconazole is used to treat systemic fungal infections especially opportunistic infections in people with HIV/AIDS and chemotherapy patients.

Oral ketoconazole needs the acidic environment of the stomach to be absorbed into the body.

Since the molecule is soluble in fat, ketoconazole is deposited in the fat stores of the body. This could lead to toxicity since the stored ketoconazole will be released for longer than intended.

Ketoconazole is often used to treat certain diseases not because of its antifungal activity but for its side effects.

For example, the drug is known to reduce testosterone levels in the body. Because of this, it is useful in the treatment of prostate cancer.

This ability to lower testosterone levels is most likely the reason ketoconazole reverses hair loss.

Apart from lowering testosterone levels in the body, ketoconazole is also known to suppress the production of glucocorticoids, a side effect useful in the management of Cushing’s syndrome. Other such beneficial side effects of ketoconazole are still being investigated in the management of other medical conditions.

The two common strengths in which topical ketoconazole is sold are 1% and 2%. The over-the-counter 1% solution is the more preferred formulation since it provides clear benefits and low risk of toxicity.

Topical ketoconazole is commonly used to treat fungal infections on the skin such as ringworm, athlete’s foot and yeast infection.

To treat fungal skin infections and hair dandruff, ketoconazole is formulated as shampoos and creams.

There are only a very few studies done to investigate the effectiveness of ketoconazole as a hair loss remedy but these have shown positive results. Still, the FDA-approved indication for ketoconazole shampoo is in the treatment of dandruff and scalp infections, and its ability to stop hair loss is an off-label use.

How Ketoconazole Works

As an antifungal agent, ketoconazole disrupts cellular processes in fungi. Specifically, it inhibits a key enzyme responsible for the production of the sterol needed for the cell membranes of these microorganisms.

The conversion of lanosterol to ergosterol in fungal cells is the point at which ketoconazole acts.

After interfering with the production of ergosterol, the microbe cannot form a strong cell membrane and so dies off easily.

On the other hand, ketoconazole also inhibits the production of androgens. It is this pathway that makes it useful for treating hair loss.

Ketoconazole inhibits androgen in two ways. First, it reduces how much of these hormones are synthesized, and secondly, in competes with them at the receptors where they should bind.

However, high oral doses of ketoconazole are needed to effectively block the production of androgens in the adrenal gland and testicles.

Formulating ketoconazole as a topical agent such as nizoral shampoo might increase the amount of the drug that is absorbed. Therefore, instead of taking high doses of the drug, a small dose that is largely absorbed through the skin should provide the same benefits.

By reducing the amount of testosterone produced in the body, ketoconazole also reduces the amount of DHT (dihydrotestosterone) produced. DHT is known to be the molecule responsible for androgenetic alopecia.

Furthermore, by competing with androgens at the receptors where they bind, ketoconazole reduces the activities of these hormones.

This means that the ketoconazole applied to the scalp and absorbed through the skin will not only reduce the blood levels of testosterone and DHT but also block the receptors on the hair follicle cells where they might bind.

When DHT enters the cells of the hair follicle, it kills them off and cause progressive hair loss. Ketoconazole, therefore, stops hair loss by two pathways. First, it reduces the amount of DHT produced and then blocks the few synthesized DHT from acting.

Ketoconazole Studies

A 1998 study found out that Nizoral containing 2% ketoconazole provides results comparable to the Minoxidil in Rogaine when both were used in the treatment of male pattern alopecia.

A more recent study done in 2008 and published in Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology compared the effectiveness of 1% ketoconazole and 1% zinc pyrithione for the treatment of dandruff and seborrhea.

44 men used Nizoral shampoo over the course of the study while 43 men used a similar shampoo containing zinc pyrithione.

The Nizoral/ketoconazole group shed lesser hair over a 24-hour period than the other group. But the more dramatic result was that the Nizoral/ketoconazole group experienced an 8% improvement in hair growth over the course of the study.

How Does The Shampoo Work?

There are a few ways that Nizoral shampoo works to keep your hair healthy and prevent hair loss. Not only is it an antifungal shampoo, it also works to completely cleanse the scalp, and it can block androgen receptors.

Put these three things together by using Nizoral, and you are taking great steps to reduce inflammation and thinning hair.

There are many products available on the market today that can do one or two of these things, but Nizoral shampoo is the only treatment that has all three properties, and you don’t have to use many different products at once to get the same results. This is not only convenient, it will also help to save you money in the long run.

How to Use Nizoral Shampoo

If you really want to get the most out of Nizoral, you should be using it at least once every two or three days on a regular basis.

As soon as you step into the shower, apply Nizoral and let it sit on your scalp for a few minutes so it can have enough time to work properly. It is important that you leave it on for at least a couple of minutes, as the medication needs time to actually be able to work. Make sure that you rinse the hair loss shampoo out of your hair completely.

If you are worried about thinning hair, Nizoral shampoo is the product for you. Not only will it help to treat this problem, it will also keep your scalp healthy so you don’t have dandruff.

Anyone can use Nizoral, and can be used in conjunction with other hair loss products.

Side Effects of Nizoral Shampoo

• Sensitivity
• Itching
• Dryness or oiliness of the hair and scalp
• Hair discoloration
• Rashes and skin irritation
• Urticaria
• Skin burning sensation
• Abnormal hair texture