Chewing gum, juleps and your roommate’s herb garden: the three most likely places you’ve seen mint lately. But if you’re losing your hair, you may have stumbled on a fourth.
Search online for natural treatments for hair loss, and you’ll quickly find peppermint oil listed as an alternative to FDA-approved medications.
There’s a reason for this. Peppermint essential oil is one of the more popular essential oils. Beyond its refreshing smell and cooling sensation, the touted antibacterial, anti-fungal, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties could — theoretically — make it a valuable ingredient in everything from shampoos and conditioners to other personal care products.
So, what does the science say?
This article answers this question below, reviews the current research, discusses the purported benefits and offers some advice on how to use peppermint oil as part of your hair care routine. It also goes over some alternatives for those of you who want mouthwash and hair styling to stay in separate lanes.
What Is Peppermint Oil?
Peppermint oil is an essential oil made from, well…peppermint herb. A hybrid of watermint and spearmint, the plant’s official name is mentha piperita.
Like other mints, peppermint contains an organic compound called menthol. This is what gives the peppermint plant its unique flavor, as well as the mild cooling and anesthetic effects you feel when it’s applied to the skin.
Peppermint grows as a leafing plant, but peppermint oil is a highly concentrated, oil-based form of the compounds found in the leaves and flowers.
Like many other essential oils and natural oils for hair growth, peppermint oil is often promoted as a cure-all that can solve just about every ailment under the sun — including many forms of hair loss.
Though peppermint oil is commonly mentioned as an effective essential oil for stimulating hair growth, scientific research into its effects is very limited at this point.
For example, a few studies have found that peppermint oil, in combination with other products, may help treat indigestion. Other research has found that peppermint oil may help with IBS (irritable bowel syndrome), tension headaches and abdominal pain.
Because of its uniquely refreshing scent, peppermint is a common ingredient in hair products, such as shampoos and conditioners, but its health benefits haven’t been studied extensively.
(Related: Sulfates in Shampoo: Should You Avoid Them?)
The Research on Peppermint Oil for Hair Growth
Although peppermint oil does appear to have some benefits, scientific research into its potential effects on hair growth is very limited.
Currently, there appears to be only one study that looked at peppermint essential oil’s effects on hair growth. The study compared peppermint oil to two other treatments for hair loss and a non-therapeutic saline solution in lab mice.
Prior to treatment, the mice were shaved, with their hair follicles synchronized in the telogen (resting) phase of the hair growth cycle.
Over the course of four weeks, the mice were treated with saline, jojoba oil, 3% peppermint oil (diluted in jojoba oil) or a 3% minoxidil solution. After four weeks, the mice in the peppermint oil group had significantly more rapid hair growth, beating every other group, including those treated with minoxidil.
The researchers concluded that peppermint essential oil may improve blood flow to hair cells, causing hairs to enter the anagen (growth) phase of their growth cycle.
This study is certainly interesting. But it’s not conclusive proof that peppermint oil is effective at promoting hair growth in humans. Why not? Several reasons:
-
It’s an animal study. While humans and mice share some characteristics, the fact that an ingredient produces a certain effect in mice doesn’t necessarily mean it’ll have the same effect on humans.
-
It was a very small study involving about 20 mice.
-
Since the study has yet to be replicated, it’s far from conclusive evidence.
There doesn’t appear to be much other research looking at peppermint oil’s potential effects on hair growth. But one study from 2016 analyzed the effects of menthol on blood circulation to the skin.
The researchers found that topical use of menthol increases blood flow in the vascular system of the skin — a similar response seen with other topical hair loss treatments like FDA-approved minoxidil.
Although these studies are interesting, there’s currently just not enough evidence to say peppermint oil definitely works to promote hair growth in humans.
Other Peppermint Oil Benefits for Hair
Greeks, Romans, Egyptians and many other cultures used peppermint for centuries as a remedy for numerous conditions and health issues.
Sadly, there’s currently very little research to support most of the purported medicinal benefits of undiluted peppermint essential oil — let alone peppermint diluted with a carrier oil.
Could peppermint oil support general wellness? Sure.
But we don’t have proof that aromatherapy or topical treatments can actually help with:
-
Colds and sinus infections
-
Joint pain
-
Itching
-
Stress
-
Irritable bowel syndrome
-
Headaches and muscle aches
Anecdotally, people may see improvements in these ailments after using peppermint oil — and in time, science may support the claims.
But right now, the FDA is not saying that the cooling effect of mint is better for reducing stress than medication, therapy or lifestyle changes, you dig?
How to Use Peppermint Oil for Hair
Look, no one is trying to stop you from using peppermint oil.
Generally speaking, you should stick with things approved by the FDA for hair growth. But if you’d like to try peppermint oil to see if it improves your hair growth, there are several ways to go about it:
-
Buy hair care products containing peppermint oil. You can find many shampoos, conditioners and other hair care products online and at drugstores with peppermint already inside.
-
Add peppermint oil to your regular hair care products. Your favorite shampoo doesn’t contain peppermint? After dispensing the shampoo into your hand, add one to two drops of peppermint essential oil — or add three to five drops per ounce of liquid for shampoo or conditioner still in the bottle.
-
Apply peppermint oil directly to your scalp. Want to go the DIY route? Mix one to two drops into a tablespoon of jojoba oil, coconut oil, shea butter oil or another carrier oil, then massage your scalp with the oil before washing your hair with shampoo.
(Related: Finasteride for Hair Loss: Side Effects, Dosage & More)
Side Effects of Peppermint Oil for Hair
When applied topically or taken orally in normal doses, peppermint oil is generally safe for most people — you’d be hard-pressed to find toxicological research that says otherwise.
That said, you do need to be careful. When applied topically, peppermint oil may cause skin irritation and rashes. Peppermint oil shouldn’t be applied to the faces of infants or children, as the menthol in the oil could be harmful if inhaled.
When taken orally, peppermint oil may cause dry mouth, heartburn, nausea, abdominal pain and, in rare cases, allergic reactions.
To reduce your risk of experiencing side effects from peppermint oil, start with a small amount (one to two drops) mixed into your shampoo, conditioner or a carrier oil, then adjust over time based on your comfort level and preferences.
Alternatives to Peppermint Oil for Hair Growth
Starting to lose your hair? A range of treatment options are available to help slow down or stop thinning and even regrow some of your “lost” hair.
Consider these options.
-
Minoxidil. Minoxidil is a medication that improves blood flow to encourage hair growth. While it’s typically used as a topical medication in the form of minoxidil foam and minoxidil solution, oral versions are also available. When used daily, it can help to slow down hair loss and may even help you grow back “lost” hair.
-
Finasteride. Finasteride is an oral medication that blocks DHT, the hormone that causes male pattern baldness. Used on its own or with minoxidil, finasteride can slow down and stop hair loss. Sometimes, it can even stimulate new growth in parts of the scalp with thinning.
-
Saw palmetto. Saw palmetto is an herb that may block the hormone DHT, keeping your hair as thick and healthy as possible. It’s available over the counter and as an ingredient in DHT-blocking shampoo.
-
Biotin. Although biotin doesn’t have any direct effects on male pattern baldness, it’s an essential vitamin for healthy, consistent hair growth. Various multivitamins and supplements for hair contain it, as do biotin gummies, which make it easy to maintain optimal levels of the B vitamin for healthy hair, nails and skin.
-
Other options. Check out volumizing shampoo and conditioner or thickening shampoo with saw palmetto, and learn more about DHT-blocking shampoos to incorporate hair protection into your routine.
Peppermint Oil and Hair: Final Thoughts
Alternative medicine practitioners are big on natural ingredients. Whether it’s rosemary oil, lavender oil, tea tree oil or castor oil, you have every reason to wonder if the antimicrobial, nourishing or hair regrowth claims made on behalf of these products are anything but nonsense.
As for the potential benefits of peppermint oil for hair, it’s too early to say.
Here’s what to know:
-
Although research into peppermint oil’s effects on hair growth looks promising, there just isn’t enough scientific evidence available to confidently say whether it works.
-
While peppermint oil might be a skincare booster that reduces dandruff and other issues with a quick scalp massage, science hasn’t really proved it to be reliable yet.
-
If you’re losing your hair, using peppermint oil may help stimulate growth.
-
However, there’s also a real possibility it won’t have any noticeable effects on your hair’s thickness, growth rate or overall appearance.
If you want to protect the follicles you have, we suggest checking out the hair loss treatments currently on the market.
That’s just one of the ways you can look fresh up top again — just maybe not minty-fresh.
This article originally appeared on Hims.com and was syndicated by MediaFeed.org.
More from MediaFeed:
How Does Propecia Work For Hair Loss? Everything You Need to Know
If you’re starting to lose your hair and want to stop it from getting worse, your healthcare provider may suggest using Propecia — either on its own or with a topical treatment like minoxidil. What is Propecia, though?
Propecia is a research-backed, FDA-approved prescription hair loss treatment. It contains the active ingredient finasteride and works by stopping testosterone from converting into the hormone dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which causes hair loss or a receding hairline in men.
Numerous studies show that the medication can slow down, stop and even reverse the effects of male pattern baldness.
Read on to learn more about Propecia for men, including how it works as a treatment for pattern hair loss. You’ll also find answers to questions about generic Propecia, a rundown of common side effects, how to access the medication, how to use it and more.
AndreyPopov/istockphoto
Propecia is a prescription medication that treats androgenetic alopecia (the clinical term for male pattern baldness). Currently, Propecia is only available in tablet form. Each tablet contains 1 milligram (mg) of finasteride.
What is Propecia used for? The FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) approved Propecia in 1997. Before that, healthcare providers prescribed the active ingredient finasteride to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH or enlarged prostate).
A happy side effect? The medication also helped with androgenetic hair loss (aka male pattern hair loss or baldness). So now finasteride is used for this purpose as well.
stefanamer/Istockphoto
Finasteride is available in 1-milligram and 5-milligram tablets. But the typical Propecia dosage for male pattern hair loss in men is 1 milligram daily.
If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember on the same day as the missed dose. But don’t take a double dose if you forgot to take your tablet yesterday. In that case, just take your next scheduled dose.
Inside Creative House/Istockphoto
Propecia’s active ingredient finasteride is part of a class of medications known as 5-alpha reductase inhibitors (or 5ARIs). As mentioned, it prevents your body from converting testosterone into the more potent androgenic hormone DHT.
How does this help with male pattern baldness? Let’s first dig into why this type of hair loss occurs in the first place.
You don’t get pattern hair loss from wearing a hat that’s too tight, washing your hair too often or using too many styling products. Male pattern baldness happens thanks to a combination of genetic factors and the effects of DHT.
Your body produces DHT by converting a small percentage of its freely circulating testosterone — via an enzyme called 5 alpha-reductase.
If you’re genetically predisposed to male pattern baldness, the DHT created from this process can bind to receptors in your scalp and gradually cause your hair follicles to shrink and stop producing new hairs.
Not everyone is equally sensitive to the effects of DHT. This is why some guys go bald in their 20s or 30s, while others maintain a full head of hair well into older adulthood.
How does finasteride fit into this? As a 5-alpha reductase inhibitor, it prevents your body from converting testosterone into DHT.
This lowers the amount of DHT that can bind to receptors in your scalp and protects your hair follicles from DHT-related damage.
LightFieldStudios/istockphoto
Propecia — or, more specifically, its active ingredient, finasteride — has been the focus of research for decades. Several studies have found that it can slow down, stop and even reverse the effects of male pattern baldness.
More recent studies have looked at the effects of finasteride on hair growth and male pattern baldness over an even longer period.
In a 2019 study published in the journal Clinical Research and Trials, a team of researchers in Japan examined the effects of finasteride in men who’d been using the medication for 10 years.
Over 99 percent of participants showed no worsening of hair loss over the entire decade of using finasteride. Even more impressively, 91.5 percent showed improvements in hair growth.
The researchers concluded finasteride showed “high efficacy and safety” as a treatment for male pattern hair loss.
(Related: Does Minoxidil Work For a Receding Hairline?)
Regina Burganova/istockphoto
The finasteride in Propecia starts blocking DHT right away, but it can take several months to produce any noticeable changes in your hair.
Most people start to see results from Propecia after three to four months of daily use. As the medication starts to work, you may notice:
-
Your hair loss slows down, with fewer stray hairs visible on your pillowcase or in the shower drain
-
Improvements in your hair’s thickness and density, especially around the hairline or crown (the area at the top of your head)
Though Propecia is effective for most guys, it won’t completely stop your hair from falling out.
Your hair goes through a natural multi-phase hair growth cycle, and it’s common and normal to shed some hair even if you’re taking Propecia for hair loss.
Make sure to take finasteride every day, even if you don’t notice any change in your hair during the first few months of treatment.
diego_cervo/istockphoto
Propecia is an oral medication, so as long as you don’t mind swallowing pills, it’s pretty easy to use. The tablets are typically taken once a day, with or without food. As with any medication, it’s usually best to take it around the same time each day.
That said, you’ll want to follow your healthcare provider’s instructions for using this medication to make sure you’re taking it as prescribed.
Is There a Generic Version of Propecia?
Yes. Propecia was protected by a patent through the 1990s and 2000s, but like many established medications, that patent has since expired. The point is, finasteride, its active ingredient, is now available in generic form.
Generic finasteride is available in the same 1-milligram tablet dosage as brand-name Propecia. It’s equally effective at treating hair loss, making it an option worth considering if your budget is a concern.
You can get generic finasteride online, following a consultation with a licensed healthcare professional who’ll determine if a prescription is appropriate.
macniak/istockphoto
If you’ve searched online for information about Propecia hair loss medication, you may have seen references to a similar medication called Proscar.
Proscar is a medication for benign prostatic hyperplasia. It contains the same active ingredient as Propecia but at a higher dosage (each tablet of Proscar has 5 milligrams of finasteride versus 1 milligram for each Propecia tablet).
Your healthcare provider will likely prescribe Proscar or its generic equivalent if you have an enlarged prostate. Proscar isn’t typically used as a treatment for male pattern baldness.
Valeriy_G/istockphoto
Millions of men in the United States and around the world use Propecia to treat pattern hair loss, and most don’t experience significant issues.
However, like all medications, Propecia can potentially cause side effects.
The most common side effects of Propecia include issues like:
-
Changes in drive
According to the FDA’s documentation for Propecia, these common side effects were reported by 1.2 to 1.8 percent of men who used the medication in clinical trials.
Although uncommon, other adverse effects have been reported with Proscar (the prostate enlargement medication). This includes male breast enlargement (gynecomastia) and breast tenderness or pain, which could create a male breast cancer risk.
Finasteride has also been linked to testicular pain, depression and infertility.
It’s important to keep in mind that these issues affect only a tiny percentage of people who use Propecia, Proscar or generic finasteride.
In rare cases, Propecia can cause allergic reactions. If you experience any of the following symptoms, seek medical care as soon as possible:
-
Skin rash, itching or hives
-
Swelling on the lips or face
-
Difficulty breathing or swallowing
-
Breast changes, such as growth, pain, lumps or nipple discharge
Propecia and other medications containing finasteride might cause finasteride drug interactions when taken with certain other medications.
Be sure to let your healthcare provider know about all medications you currently take or have recently taken before using Propecia for hair regrowth.
(Related: Does Minoxidil Work For a Receding Hairline?)
Ridofranz/istockphoto
Another safety note: Propecia is only approved for use in men. Research has found that finasteride can contribute to birth defects when taken during pregnancy.
Pregnant women shouldn’t take Propecia or other medications that contain finasteride — or touch broken or crushed Propecia tablets.
PeopleImages/Istockphoto
Propecia is only available with a valid prescription. This means you’ll need to talk to a healthcare professional to buy and use it — you can’t get it over the counter.
If you’ve noticed early signs of male pattern baldness and want to use Propecia prescription medication to prevent further hair loss, it’s best to talk to your healthcare provider.
gorodenkoff/istockphoto
Now that you have an idea of what Propecia is and what it’s used for, you might be wondering if it’s right for you.
Here’s what to keep in mind:
-
Propecia — which contains finasteride — is an effective medication for male pattern baldness that can slow, stop or even reverse hair loss.
-
Consider using finasteride with the topical hair loss medication minoxidil (which comes as a foam or liquid solution) and other science-based hair loss treatments.
-
You can also use a two-in-one product, like topical finasteride & minoxidil spray.
-
For optimal results in your quest for hair regrowth, it’s best to connect with a healthcare professional to learn more about your individual hair needs and get medical advice on effective hair loss treatment options.
This article originally appeared on Hims.com and was syndicated by MediaFeed.org.
seb_ra/istockphoto
Ridofranz/istockphoto
Featured Image Credit: dolgachov/Istockphoto.
