CBD for Hair Loss: Does It Actually Help With Alopecia?

CBD might help with some kinds of hair loss, but the evidence is early: research suggests CBD-rich hemp extract applied to the scalp may support modest regrowth (one small six-month study saw some in people with androgenetic alopecia), and its anti-inflammatory effects may help calm an irritated scalp. It's not a proven cure. Alopecia, the medical term for hair loss, affects millions of people, whether it's driven by genetics, hormones or a medical condition, and it can take a real toll on appearance and self-esteem. Here's what we actually know about CBD for hair loss.

What causes alopecia?

Before getting into CBD, it helps to understand where hair loss comes from. Alopecia can have several causes, including:

• Genetics: Androgenetic alopecia, the most common type of hair loss (male or female pattern baldness), often runs in families.
• Hormonal changes: Hormonal shifts, like those during pregnancy and menopause, can contribute to hair loss in women.
• Natural aging: As we get older, it's normal for hair to get thinner and less dense.
• Poor nutrition: A diet low in key nutrients, like vitamin D, can affect hair health.
• Harsh hair products: Overdoing chemical treatments and harsh products can damage your hair.
• Medical conditions: Autoimmune diseases like alopecia areata can cause sudden hair loss.
• Medical treatments: Chemotherapy and certain medications can make hair fall out.

CBD and hair loss: is there a link?

CBD is a cannabis compound that's taken off in recent years thanks to its potential to help with a range of health issues. When it comes to alopecia, research suggests, and plenty of anecdotal reports agree, that CBD might help.

• Supporting hair growth: Hemp and cannabis oils are rich in omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, along with vitamins and minerals, which may support healthy hair growth. A small study reported that applying CBD-rich hemp extract to the scalp for six months led to some hair regrowth. Researchers have suggested that CBD, by acting as a negative allosteric modulator of CB1 receptors (it dials down their activity), might help speed up hair growth.
• Moisture and less inflammation: CBD products are often marketed as moisturizing and may help with dry-scalp issues like dandruff. CBD's anti-inflammatory properties may also help calm scalp irritation, which can contribute to dandruff and hair loss.

How to use CBD for hair loss

Topical CBD products are the most common way people try CBD for alopecia. Some products on the market include:

• Steam Active Botanicals shampoo: Marketed to support healthy hair growth and clean away dirt without stripping your hair's natural oils.
• Fitish Hair Volumizing Serum: Marketed to strengthen hair and support healthy growth while adding volume and softness.
• Raincry Rebuild Bond hair treatment: Marketed to protect hair from environmental damage and improve how your strands look.

Remember: CBD is promising, but it's not a cure for alopecia. Other factors, like genetics and diet, also shape hair health. Before starting any treatment with CBD products, talk to a healthcare professional.

CBD vs. THC: are they the same thing?

No, CBD and THC aren't the same. Cannabis contains more than 500 organic compounds, at least 113 of them cannabinoids. CBD and THC stand out for their therapeutic potential. THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol, is the main psychoactive compound in the plant and the one behind the high cannabis is famous for.

CBD doesn't get you high; THC does. But both have significant therapeutic potential, which may get a boost when they "work" together. That's the synergy known as the entourage effect: CBD may enhance some of THC's properties, like pain relief and anti-tumor effects seen in lab research, while taking the edge off its psychoactivity.

What is CBD and what is it used for?

CBD was first approved as a medicine in 2018 by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), under the brand name "Epidiolex," to treat seizures in children with severe forms of epilepsy. Beyond that, people all over the world use CBD for all kinds of things, including pain relief, sleep and general wellness.

Besides epilepsy, studies suggest that CBD may help reduce anxiety in people with schizophrenia or psychosis, or who are dealing with various addictions.

CBD has a long list of potential therapeutic uses. It's being studied for stress, depression and mental health conditions. Research suggests it may be neuroprotective and help relax muscles, which is why it's sometimes recommended (always by professionals) as a palliative option for body pain and other kinds of discomfort.

CBD-rich cannabis oil is used day to day as a dietary supplement, a topical remedy or a pharmaceutical treatment to help relieve:

• chronic pain,
• inflammation in inflammatory bowel or skin conditions,
• anxiety,
• depression
• the severity and frequency of seizures in treatment-resistant epilepsy, among others.

Cannabis oil is also used to help manage symptoms of neurological and neuropsychiatric conditions like:

• multiple sclerosis,
• Alzheimer's,
• Parkinson's
• schizophrenia.

CBD is just one of more than 500 active substances, and more than 100 different cannabinoids, identified in cannabis so far.

How CBD works in the brain

Your brain, spinal cord and peripheral nervous system are home to CB1 and CB2 receptors, which interact with cannabinoids. That interaction triggers and shapes the body's natural responses to stress, anxiety and pain. Homeostasis is the body's way of keeping its functions in balance, and research suggests CBD oil may support that natural process.

How to take CBD oil for pain

CBD can be taken by mouth or applied to the skin, depending on the product. There are tons of options, from oils and softgels marketed for anxiety to relaxing bath salts, creams and massage oils. You can smoke it, sure, but if you're using CBD for therapeutic or medical reasons, it's best to skip combustion and go for healthier formats. 

Several studies have shown that CBD has a strong anticonvulsant effect that works well in certain types of epilepsy, and its use has grown a lot because it doesn't get you high.

Thanks to advances in breeding, you can now grow strains that are almost pure CBD, without the THC, the cannabinoid with psychoactive effects.

CBD drug interactions and contraindications

CBD interacts with medications and can weaken or prolong their effects: it inhibits or boosts cytochrome P450 enzymes (CYP for short). That changes how your body breaks down a long list of compounds and drugs.

If you take any medication, check with your doctor first. Go carefully, too, if you have a history of mental illness or alcohol or drug abuse, or if you're pregnant or breastfeeding.

Many cannabis oils for vaping (e-liquids for vape pens) contain propylene glycol. When overheated, this additive produces formaldehyde, a carcinogenic byproduct.