I realize that hair loss can devastate anyone – both men and women.
And that watching your receding hairline or bald spot get bigger and bigger can make you feel desperate enough to try anything to make it grow back.
That’s why I was so concerned when I heard about an FDA-approved Big Pharma drug trial on baricitinib, a rheumatoid arthritis med its maker claims can regrow hair.
I advise you not to be tempted.
According to the FDA’s warning, the drug risks developing some severe side effects.1
Baricitinib, sold under the brand olumiant, is a Janus Kinase (JAK) inhibitor. It works by disrupting the body’s ability to communicate with proteins called cytokines, which are associated with inflammation.
Its maker, Eli Lilly, has been desperate to find other revenue lines for this dangerous prescription. Most recently, it has tried pushing baricitinib as an anti-Covid med.
I don’t recommend it for rheumatoid arthritis or as an anti-Covid treatment, and I certainly don’t recommend it for hair loss.
Its long list of side effects includes:
- Shortness of breath
- Chest pain or pressure that may spread to your jaw, shoulder, arms, or back
- Nausea, fever, vomiting, cold sweat
- Light-headedness and dizziness
- Slurred speech
- Pain or swelling in an arm or a leg
- Fatigue
- Wheezing and trouble breathing
According to the FDA, baricitinib can also increase your risk of developing cancers, such as lymphoma or lung cancer, heart attack, blood clots, and stroke.
Phase III trials appear to show the drug works against hair loss – especially with the alopecia areata – by interrupting the messaging between your hair follicles and the immune cells attacking hair follicles.
I don’t believe the drug is worth the risk.
The good news is that there are much safer and more natural ways to combat hair loss.
The real source of healthy hair, indeed, lies in your follicles. The problem is that damaged or stressed follicles stop producing hair.
But that doesn’t mean the follicles are dead.
I use plant stem cell extracts at the Sears Institute for Anti-Aging Medicine to renourish aging hair follicles. This encourages them to begin the growth cycle of hair again.
If you’re a regular reader, you’ll know that stem cells are the natural cells in your body that repair dying tissue – and we depend on our hair follicle stem cells to produce new hairs.
Studies show that certain natural ingredients can coax follicle stem cells to begin regrowing hair.
Here’s what I tell my patients:
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- First, nourish your hair follicles with vitamin B3. Also known as niacinamide, this vitamin restores nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) levels and feeds your hair follicle stem cells to grow new hair. It works by boosting blood circulation to the scalp and reducing inflammation. In a study of 60 women with alopecia, dermatologists instructed half to massage a NAD serum onto their scalps every day. The other half used a placebo. After four weeks, the women in the placebo group saw no results. But those that used the B3 serum saw new growth where hair hadn’t grown in years.2 Look for serums that contain niacinamide to apply directly to your scalp. Make sure any product you buy has at least 5% niacinamide. You should see results in four to six weeks.
- Then supplement with saw palmetto: Saw palmetto is rich in beta-sitosterol. It inhibits the formation of DHT, the hormone responsible for male-pattern baldness. An important study examined people between the ages of 23 and 64 with hair loss. The people received either beta-sitosterol or a placebo. A whopping 60% of the people receiving beta-sitosterol had improved hair growth. They also lost less hair than the placebo group.3 I recommend getting at least 300 mg of beta-sitosterol every day with a saw palmetto supplement.
- Finally, rub black cumin seed oil into your scalp: Like saw palmetto, black cumin seed (nigella sativa) oil is rich in beta-sitosterol. In one study, a group of people was treated with black cumin seed oil for three months. Results showed that 90% had increased hair thickness.4 Look for black cumin seeds at health food stores or online. But don’t confuse them with cumin. Look for 100% pure oil pressed from black cumin seeds. Rub it into your hair and scalp.
Natural therapy regrows 40% of lost hair.
I combine these follicle-stimulating nutrients at my clinic with platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy.
PRP is a simple treatment that involves injecting growth factors from your own blood back into your scalp. It uses your body’s own platelets to attract stem cells to any injured or damaged area.
PRP works because plasma is also your body’s natural reservoir for hundreds of proteins called growth factors. When PRP is injected into an injured area, these powerful growth factors promote healing and regenerate injured tissue.
Studies show it works. In one study, 78% of male and female patients regrew between 30% and 40% of the hair they lost.5
If you’d like to schedule an appointment for PRP therapy for hair loss, please call the Sears Institute for Anti-Aging Medicine at 561-784-7852. My staff will be happy to answer all your questions.
To Your Good Health,
Al Sears, MD, CNS
References:
1. “U.S. Food and Drug Administration. FDA requires warnings about an increased risk of serious heart-related events, cancer, blood clots, and death for JAK inhibitors that treat certain chronic inflammatory conditions.” Dec. 7. 2021. Available at: https://www.fda.gov/drugs/drug-safety-and-availability/fda-requires-warnings-about-increased-risk-serious-heart-related-events-cancer-blood-clots-and-death
2. Draelos ZD, et al. “A pilot study evaluating the efficacy of topically applied niacin derivatives for treatment of female pattern alopecia.” J Cosmet Dermatol. 2005;4(4):258-61.
3. Prager N, et al. “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.” J Altern Complement Med 2002; 8(2): 143-152.
4. Sudhir P, et al. “Nigella sativa seed, a novel beauty care ingredient: A review.” Int J Pham Sci Res. 2016;3:3185-3196.
5. Stevens J and Khetarpal S. “Platelet-rich plasma for androgenetic alopecia: A review of the literature and proposed treatment protocol.” Int J Womens Dermatol. 2019 Feb;5(1):46–51.