FAQ

WHAT ACTIVE INGREDIENTS ARE IN THE PRODUCT?

Quercetin, Redensyl, and Procapil

HOW OFTEN DO I NEED TO USE THE PRODUCT BEFORE SEEING IMPROVEMENTS?

Most patients note major hair regrowth within 90 days. Many patients note hair regrowth within 30 days.

WHAT WILL HAPPEN WHEN I STOP USING THE PRODUCT?

Patients who stop using the product will slowly lose the hair that they have regrown.

HOW MUCH PRODUCT DO I NEED TO APPLY?

A small amount (size of a nickel to a quarter) massaged into the scalp twice daily.

WHAT IS KETOCONAZOLE?

Ketoconazole is an antifungal medication that is commonly used to treat skin and nail conditions such as athlete’s foot, dandruff, and seborrheic dermatitis. It’s also a common ingredient in many hair loss shampoos and a substance that you’ll often find recommended, usually in the form of Ketoconazole 1% or 2% shampoo, as part of overall hair loss prevention. Ketoconazole is scientifically linked to improvements in hair growth, making it worth using as a male pattern baldness treatment. It requires specific application to help decrease sebum and cleanse the scalp.

DOES KETOCONAZOLE SHAMPOO STOP HAIR LOSS?

While there isn’t quite as much scientific data about ketoconazole and hair loss as there is for minoxidil and finasteride, most studies related to ketoconazole and baldness show that it can be effective for improving hair growth. One study from 1998 compared ketoconazole and minoxidil to see which had the best effects on hair growth. The researchers discovered that 2% ketoconazole shampoo increased the size and proportion of anagen hair follicles at a similar rate to the minoxidil spray. There are also animal studies showing that regular use of ketoconazole significantly stimulates the rate of hair growth, even in hair follicles that aren’t usually affected by balding (such as the DHT-immune hair follicles on the back of the head).

HOW DOES KETOCONAZOLE HELP STOP HAIR LOSS?

One scientific paper from 2004 presents a hypothesis that ketoconazole can disrupt the DHT pathway, potentially inhibiting DHT and slowing down hair loss. The researchers propose that ketoconazole could potentially be used as an adjunct to finasteride for stronger hair retention.

CAN KETOCONAZOLE SHAMPOO CAN ALSO PREVENT DANDRUFF?

Since ketoconazole treats seborrheic dermatitis, it’s widely used as an anti-dandruff shampoo ingredient. This means that you’ll probably want to consider adding a ketoconazole shampoo to your hair care stack if you’ve noticed dandruff forming on your neck and shoulders. Ketoconazole isn’t effective against all forms of dandruff, meaning you’ll want to try a variety of options if you have persistent dandruff that just won’t go away. Our post on preventing dandruff shares several treatment options for improving your scalp health.

SHOULD YOU USE A KETOCONAZOLE SHAMPOO LIKE NIZORAL?

Ketoconazole shampoos like Nizoral are often touted online as being one of the “big three” hair loss prevention products, the other being finasteride and minoxidil. While the current studies don’t yet show ketoconazole as being as much of a help for hair loss as finasteride and minoxidil, it could be effective at helping you create a good environment for hair growth. You should note that the studies which reviewed ketoconazole for hair loss used the prescription strength 2% solution. In the US you can buy the 1% solution over the counter but would need a prescription for the 2% ketoconazole shampoo.

WHAT THEY’RE SAYING

See before and after photos of how DR RAFI has helped real people regrow
their hair – and their confidence!