Saw palmetto (Serenoa repens) is a shrub-like, small palm tree found in Florida and other southeastern areas of the United States. The fruit from this tree (saw palmetto berries) can be dried and turned into a powder or extract used for medicinal purposes. It is believed that saw palmetto can help regulate certain hormones in the body and may have anti-inflammatory properties, which can offer several benefits, including reducing male and female pattern baldness. One of the primary motivators for many who take saw palmetto supplements is slowing and reversing hair loss. Are you interested in learning more? Here’s everything you need to know about this herbal supplement.

What is male and female pattern baldness?

Male and female pattern baldness, also known as androgenetic alopecia, is a common condition that becomes increasingly prevalent with age. In women, thinning hair typically occurs all over the scalp, whereas men usually experience a M-shaped pattern of hair loss.

Androgenetic alopecia is caused by testosterone (an androgen hormone) and its conversion into a dihydrotestosterone or DHT molecule. High levels of androgens, including DHT, can shorten the hair’s growth cycle and shrink the hair follicles. This results in brittle, thin hair that is more susceptible to falling out. These androgen imbalances can also make it more difficult for your follicles to regrow hair once it has fallen out.

How can Saw Palmetto help with androgenic alopecia?

Serenoa repens contains phytosterols and flavonoids with anti-androgenic activity. These can help by blocking the receptors for DHT and androstenediol in the hair follicle cells and inhibiting 5-alpha reductase. As mentioned above, this enzyme is responsible for converting testosterone into DHT, which significantly impacts hair loss and thinning. Saw palmetto is believed to inhibit this conversion, thereby preventing the body from absorbing high levels of DHT.

What other benefits does saw palmetto have for hair health?

While the primary purpose for using saw palmetto is often to prevent hair loss, it can provide several other benefits to ensure your locks are healthy and luscious.

• Strengthens the hair
  Evidence suggests that saw palmetto can strengthen the hair follicle, helping the hair become stronger and thicker.

• Fights inflammation
  Thanks to its anti-inflammatory properties, saw palmetto can help reduce scalp inflammation, which can contribute to various conditions, including eczema, dandruff, acne, and hair loss. By reducing inflammation, you can improve the overall health of your scalp.

• Promotes hair growth
  A reduction in inflammation promotes new hair growth and reduces hair fall.

How effective is saw palmetto on androgenetic hair loss?

A few studies have shown hair regrowth using oral and topical products containing Saw palmetto. In one study, 52% of participants experienced a reduction in hair shedding, 60% reported an improvement in hair quality, and 83.3% noted an increase in hair density. Another study compared the effectiveness of oral saw palmetto (Serenoa repens) to finasteride (Propecia) in treating male pattern hair loss. The study showed hair regrowth in 68% of men taking finasteride and 38% of those taking Saw palmetto, the plant-based alternative. The authors conclude that Serenoa repens (Saw palmetto) could be considered a valid approach in treating low or moderate androgenetic male pattern alopecia and a good alternative for patients with finasteride or other topical therapies that cannot be used. Another study reported that taking a daily dose of saw palmetto, combined with another plant compound, reduced hair loss in 60% of men with androgenetic alopecia. The effects of saw palmetto on androgenic hair loss can be related to its anti-androgenic effect and to β-sitosterol that stimulates vascular endothelial growth factor in vitro and promotes blood flow circulation to the hair follicles.

How effective is saw palmetto on other types of hair loss?

In addition to its anti-androgenic effects, saw palmetto is believed to have potent anti-inflammatory properties. Laboratory studies have shown that saw palmetto inhibits inflammatory gene expression in human keratinocytes, suggesting a possible effect on inflammation-related sudden hair shedding (telogen effluvium).

How should I use saw palmetto to improve hair health?

This beneficial ingredient can be taken in a capsule, liquid, or powder form and is often combined with other natural hair supplements.

Saw palmetto as an oral supplement: When taken orally, saw palmetto can work internally as a DHT-blocker to reduce hair loss and inflammation. When considering hair growth supplements, review the ingredients label to ensure that saw palmetto is listed prominently. You can purchase supplements in many natural food stores, drugstores, or herbal apothecaries, available in soft gel, tablet, and capsule form.

Saw palmetto in shampoo and conditioner: A few shampoos and conditioners contain saw palmetto. While it benefits the scalp, it is less effective than treating it with a topical solution that stays on the scalp for several hours.

Are there any side effects to using saw palmetto for hair loss?

There are known effects of using saw palmetto topically in scalp serums or shampoos. Taking Saw palmetto orally can be associated, in rare cases, with mild side effects (mild headache, nausea, constipation, or diarrhea). Saw palmetto may reduce PSA levels by 50% in men after 6 - 12 months of treatment. Therefore, men should report taking saw palmetto to their family physician.

Customized hair treatment supplements with Saw palmetto
Customized hair scalp treatment serum with Saw palmetto
Customized hair treatment shampoo with Saw palmetto
Customized hair treatment conditioner with Saw palmetto

References

• A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to determine the effectiveness of botanically derived inhibitors of 5-alpha-reductase in the treatment of androgenetic alopecia
• Treatment of male androgenetic alopecia with topical products containing Serenoa repens extract
• Serenoa Repens: Does It Have Any Role in the Management of Androgenetic Alopecia?
• Treatment of male androgenetic alopecia with topical products containing Serenoa repens extract
• Natural Hair Supplement: Friend or Foe? Saw Palmetto, a Systematic Review in Alopecia
• Comparative effectiveness of finasteride vs. Serenoa repens in male androgenetic alopecia: a two-year study.

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