Can onion cure baldness?

High sulfur content is what gives onion juice its anti-inflammatory properties to potentially treat alopecia areata, but that's not enough to effectively treat other types of baldness.

marthastewart.com - Can Onion Juice Stop Hair Loss? | Martha Stewart

How prostate surgery is done?

A common surgical approach to prostatectomy includes making a surgical incision and removing the prostate gland (or part of it). This may be...

Last updated Jan 4, 2022

What happens if you eat too much pumpkin seeds?

When eating a single 28g serving of pumpkin seeds, whatever the variety, the fiber content is rarely sufficient to cause any side effects, but if...

Last updated Jul 31, 2018

Promotion

From scalp serums to hair masks and prescription medications, numerous hair loss treatments promise to boost hair growth. But did you know that you might already have a natural remedy for thinning strands right in your kitchen? Believe it or not, onions aren't just an ingredient for tossing into salads and sandwiches. This vegetable—particularly its juice—might actually make hair fuller. Onion juice, especially when made at home, is thought to help decrease hair loss by rejuvenating your scalp cells and hair follicles. While this antioxidant-rich vegetable is already known to support bone health, heart health, and gut health, its benefits can potentially trickle into the beauty space, too. To get to the bottom of this fascinating method, we asked trichologists and doctors to help us understand exactly how onion juice can impact hair health. For starters, does onion juice really decrease hair loss? The short answer: Yes, it can! As for the long answer: You'll only see potential regrowth after topically applying onion juice to your scalp if your hair loss is caused by a few specific issues. The experts broke it down for us; find their insight and suggestions below.

Why Does Onion Juice Prevent or Decrease Hair Loss?

"Onion juice has the potential to help stimulate hair follicles and thereby encourage hair growth," explains Tiffany Young, a certified trichologist and the CEO and founder of ThinHairThick. "It is also a natural antiseptic. Hair loss that is caused from inflammatory disease, poor blood flow, and poor diet could see a benefit." Adds Andrea Paul, MD, the medical advisor for Illuminate Labs, "At least one medical trial found that crude onion juice applied topically was effective in treating hair loss caused by alopecia areata." Dr. Paul explains that this non-standard pattern of hair loss is often caused by auto-immune conditions. Published in the Journal of Dermatology, the study Dr. Paul mentions found that participants with these health concerns saw some hair regrowth after two weeks of onion juice treatment. Four weeks later, 73.9 percent of patients saw hair regrowth. Six weeks later, 89.6 percent of patients saw hair regrowth. High sulfur content is what gives onion juice its anti-inflammatory properties to potentially treat alopecia areata, but that's not enough to effectively treat other types of baldness. "Most hair loss is due to androgenetic alopecia, like male or female pattern baldness, and there is no research to suggest that onion juice provides any benefit for this common genetic condition," explains Dr. Alan Bauman, an ABHRS-certified hair restoration surgeon. The reason? Male and female pattern baldness is caused by a genetic sensitivity to a sex hormone, and there is "no evidence that onion juice will help to reduce this sensitivity" when applied topically, Dr. Bauman notes. But if your hair loss is related to those aforementioned causes, Dr. Paul suggests giving onion juice a try, especially since there are no real health risks involved.

What's the Science Behind This Ingredient?

What food thins blood clots?

Natural blood thinners are substances that reduce the blood's ability to form clots. ... Some foods and other substances that may act as natural...

Last updated Apr 6, 2018

What should be avoided during uric acid?

Avoid meats such as liver, kidney and sweetbreads, which have high purine levels and contribute to high blood levels of uric acid. Red meat. Limit...

Last updated Jun 25, 2020

Promotion

We've established that sulfur is the chemical that helps onion juice decrease hair loss, but how does the ingredient make our hair grow? It all comes down to giving your cells and hair follicles a boost. "Hair is made from a protein called keratin," Young explains, "and the main building blocks of protein are amino acids." Because onions have high levels of amino acids due to all that sulfur, topically applying onion juice to the scalp provides the necessary amino acids and B vitamins that aid in cell regeneration (which, in turn, results in the restoration of hair follicles). Beyond cell regeneration, onion juice contributes to overall scalp health, as well. Specifically, those high sulfur levels help cleanse the scalp, which can unclog follicles and jumpstart their growth, says Dr. Cheryl Rosen, the director of dermatology at BowTied Life. Onions also boast high levels of antioxidants, as well as anti-fungal and antibacterial properties, Dr. Bauman adds. That means onion juice can both help protect hair from environmental damage and prevent scalp infections. While this agent is safe to use and has notable benefits, Dr. Rosen emphasizes that it's not a medically approved treatment, so it should not be used as a replacement for any prescribed treatments.

How Can You Incorporate Onion Juice Into Your Hair Care Routine?

"There are a few hair products that include onion juice as an ingredient for hair loss," Dr. Rosen says. She particularly recommends Rogaine Hair Regrowth Treatment for Men ($51.99, rogaine.com), which includes onion extract, and Wild Growth Hair Oil ($8.99, amazon.com), which also includes onion extract. However, since the previously referenced study from the Journal of Dermatology based its findings on crude onion juice, our experts suggest following DIY methods for optimal results. "The sulfur compounds work best when they are fresh," Young explains. "Store products tend to include preservatives which would minimize the onion juice's potency." To follow the exact methods employed in the medical study, you'll need Australian brown onions and a blender, Dr. Paul says. "The onions were chopped into small pieces and juiced using a blender. No additives were used in the study, so it seems logical to avoid additives when creating the solution," she explains. The study specifies applying the crude onion juice to the scalp twice daily, though it doesn't specify any timing beyond that. "For convenience, it probably makes sense to apply the treatment prior to showers, as it will be quite pungent," Dr. Paul adds.

marthastewart.com - Can Onion Juice Stop Hair Loss? | Martha Stewart

Does pumpkin lower testosterone?

Libido. Pumpkin seeds contain leucine, and also minerals which help you make testosterone. This is great because it improves energy, endurance,...

Last updated Sep 12, 2019

Does Jennifer Aniston have blue eyes?

Aniston is known for her bright blue eyes, but did you know that many people think that this is not her natural eye colour? May 10, 2022

Last updated Jun 1, 2019

Promotion

What happens if you don't do skin to skin?

Brain development begins with positive sensory stimulation at birth. Sensations that tell the baby's brain that the outside world is safe include...

Last updated Aug 5, 2022

Promotion

Is vitamin C or zinc better for colds?

According to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, taking vitamin C supplements regularly slightly reduces the length and...

Last updated Jul 18, 2020