Nizoral ketoconazole shampoo may have benefits for hair loss. Learn what strengths are normally used and how you should use it.
When you are approaching hair loss, you may want to rely on the tried-and-true FDA-approved treatments like Minoxidil and Finasteride. At the same time, you may also be sprinkling in a few not-so-well-confirmed agents for a treatment that comes from a few different angles.
Nizoral shampoo is a common over-the-counter product that contains the anti-fungal Ketoconazole as its active ingredient. This medication helps treat scalp fungal infections like dandruff or scalp ringworm (tinea capitis). But, some studies suggest there may be some additional benefits of Nizoral shampoo for those that are trying to target patterned hair loss.
Below, we will break down how Nizoral might help with hair loss efforts, where you can buy Nizoral shampoos, what strengths might be your best option, how often you will want to use Nizoral shampoos for targeting hair loss, and what the exact Nizoral hair-washing process looks like.
While using the active ingredient inside of Nizoral shampoo, Ketoconazole, for hair loss is not currently FDA-approved, most studies are in agreement that there is something to using Ketoconazole as an add-on hair loss treatment modality.
Ketoconazole shampoo has demonstrated increases in hair regrowth, hair diameter, and potential lengthening of the anagen (growth) phase of hair follicles.
The mechanisms behind how Nizoral and generic Ketoconazole shampoos might help here could be due to a few different things.
Ketoconazole may have some local DHT-suppressing benefits when used as a shampoo. This is beneficial because DHT is the hormonal culprit behind the shrinkage of hair follicles with patterned hair loss.
Secondly, Ketoconazole is an anti-inflammatory that can help with scalp discomfort as well as certain types of hair loss that have inflammatory aspects, including genetic hair loss.
Finally, Ketoconazole may lend a hand as an antifungal in the case of fungal and yeast scalp concerns like dandruff or scalp ringworm. These scalp skin issues can develop or exacerbate hair loss if not addressed.
You can buy Nizoral shampoo with Ketoconazole over the counter in the 1% strength. This product can normally be easily found at drug stores, grocery stores, or big box stores like Walmart or Target.
However, the 2% strength of Ketoconazole shampoo is considered a prescription item, so you need to obtain a prescription from your doctor and pick this strength up from a pharmacy.
In general, the consensus is that the 2% strength may work better for hair benefits, and this is the strength seen most commonly in the studies measuring hair benefits with Ketoconazole shampoos.
Again, since Ketoconazole shampoos are not FDA-approved for hair loss treatment, we don’t have a definite best regimen for how often you should use a Nizoral or Ketoconazole shampoo.
But, by using some of the trials as a reference, it seems like washing your hair with a Ketoconazole shampoo 2-4 times a week is a good place to aim for.
Using Nizoral or other Ketoconazole shampoos is easy, and it probably doesn’t differ very much from your usual hair-washing routine.
Start by dampening your hair with water, then massage in the Nizoral or Ketoconazole shampoo, with a focus on the scalp. Then, leave the shampoo on the scalp and hair for 3-5 minutes. Finally, rinse the shampoo off well and follow with a conditioner and wrap up your usual shower routine.
It seems like Ketoconazole shampoos like Nizoral over the counter or the stronger 2% prescription versions may be a good addition to a multi-faceted hair loss treatment regimen. But, it is unlikely that you will get the results you want using only Ketoconazole shampoos a few times a week.
Consider combining Ketoconazole shampoos with treatments like Minoxidil or Finasteride to help amplify your results.
Here at Strut, we carry a wide range of hair loss treatment medications including Ketoconazole shampoo in prescription strength. Ranging from the FDA-approved Minoxidil and Finasteride treatments, to off-label innovative topical formulations containing topical Finasteride or Dutasteride. Take a look at our hair loss treatment products to see if a prescription medication is right for you.
To get started, simply add a product to your cart, complete a free online questionnaire and image-based telemedicine consultation, and checkout in under 15 minutes. A U.S. doctor will make sure the treatment is a good fit for you and issue a prescription to a U.S. pharmacy. The compounding pharmacy will then put your medication together and ship it to your door with our free shipping.
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