botox hair restoration : When most people think of Botox, they think “wrinkles,” “old,” “aging.” Botox is most notorious for its cosmetic ability to temporarily smooth wrinkles. But what about its ability to aid in hair restoration? To help those with thinning hair?

For those who aren’t yet ready for a hair transplant, the existing FDA-approved hair loss drugs include minoxidil (Rogaine) and finasteride (Propecia). Could there be a new drug on its way to FDA approval for the reversal of thinning hair?

What Is Botox?

Botox is a serum made of Botulinum Toxin A in a purified form. It is currently used for the treatment of headaches and to cosmetically lessen the appearance of wrinkles on the face. Once injected, it works to temporarily paralyze the muscles, which decreases the muscular contractions that cause headaches and tension-induced wrinkles.

Botox hair Restoration, How Would Botox Work To Treat Thinning Hair?

Decreasing muscle tension means increasing oxygenated blood flow to the injected area. And where there is oxygenated blood, researchers believe the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone is inhibited (because the ideal conversion environment for DHT is a de-oxygenated one). A recent study in Canada tested the relationship between Botox injections and an increase of hair growth/a decrease of hair loss. The study used:

50 patients with thinning hair, ranging from NW 2 to NW 4 baldness
300 units of Botox injected over a 24-week span
A 2 cm strip of scalp as the controlled injection site (to observe new growth)
A lint trap rolled over subjects’ pillows (to observe hair loss)

The results showed a positive link between Botox injections and increased growth/decreased loss. The overall response rate to the treatment was 75%, with growth increasing by 18% and hair loss decreasing by 39% in these individuals.

Researchers noted that the results from the Canadian study are on par with those of minoxidil and thus believe that the mechanism of Botox injections works similarly.

However, there is no conclusive proof that Botox works consistently as a hair restoration drug. Much more research and testing would need to take place for it to enter the market as an FDA-approved competitor of Rogaine or Propecia.