Prevent hair loss* with caffeine

Research confirms: Caffeine stimulates hair roots!

Caffeine: Natural growth booster for hair & vitality

Caffeine, a xanthine alkaloid, is used medically as a stimulant and diuretic. In everyday life, many know it from coffee, tea, or cola. Caffeine stimulates metabolism, heart activity, and respiration. But it can do much more: Discover on this page the positive effects caffeine has on our body and how it promotes hair growth and prevents hair loss*.

Effects

6 positive effects of caffeine on our body

Studies show: Caffeine promotes hair growth¹ Caffeine improves the nourishment of hair roots. Necessary amount = 50 cups of coffee or Alpecin caffeine hair care once daily.
Caffeine can protect against type 2 diabetes² 7 cups of coffee daily halve the risk of diabetes. Caffeine lowers blood sugar levels and reduces insulin resistance.
Caffeine has beneficial effects on breast cancer³ 2-3 cups of coffee a day can reduce the risk of breast cancer. Participants on average developed cancer 7 years later and less frequently. It is suspected that caffeine activates compounds used in breast cancer therapy.
Caffeine can protect against liver cancer⁴ 4 cups of coffee a day can reduce the risk of liver cancer, as caffeine positively affects metabolism.
Caffeine helps reduce the risk of skin cancer⁵ More than 3 cups of coffee daily reduce the risk of basal cell carcinoma.
Caffeine helps with weight loss⁶ The hormone adiponectin is considered a "fat brake." The more produced, the less we eat. Caffeine can increase adiponectin levels in the body.

Hair loss prevention

Caffeine as prevention against hereditary hair loss

Hereditary hair loss is often caused by hair roots that are overly sensitive to dihydrotestosterone (DHT). DHT inhibits the formation of c-AMP, an energy messenger crucial for the hair root's metabolism. This can lead to shortened growth phases and hair loss.
Caffeine can counteract this by inhibiting the negative influence of testosterone on hair growth and compensating for the energy deficit. By extending the growth phases of the hair roots, caffeine supports hair growth well into old age.

Power for the hair root

Only when the hair root has enough energy and strength available can the hair grow healthily and strongly.

Active Ingredients

The Alpecin Caffeine Complex

Find out about the active ingredients we use to combat hereditary hair loss.

Caffeine stimulates the hair roots

Caffeine has been known for more than 20 years for its growth-stimulating effect on hair roots. It inhibits the breakdown of the intracellular messenger cAMP. As a result, more energy is available to the cells and cell growth is stimulated.

Caffeine is therefore the most researched active ingredient of plant origin against hereditary hair loss.

Complementary active ingredients

Zinc and niacin promote energy metabolism and can improve nutrient supply to the hair roots.

Caffeine hair care products

Caffeine shampoos & liquids stimulate

Graph illustration with the y-axis representing the severity of hair loss and the x-axis representing age; a steep grey curve shows the progression of hair loss without caffeine and a flatter red curve shows the milder progression of hair loss with the Alpecin Caffeine Complex.

Through the development of Alpecin products with the caffeine complex, optimally concentrated caffeine reaches the hair root directly. The caffeine-containing active ingredient combination counteracts the inherited and unwanted effects of testosterone – the growth phases extend back to a natural length, making hair growth possible well into old age.

Alpecin Coffein-Shampoos & Liquids

Do you want even more power?

A red shampoo bottle labeled "Alpecin Caffeine DMG Wirkkomplex" stands on a smooth, white surface.

New

Caffeine DMG Shampoo

Active complex with caffeine + dimethylglycine (DMG)

Effectively reduces hereditary hair loss
Can boost hair growth**
Only available here in the Alpecin shop

View product

Long-lasting effect: Caffeine quickly penetrates the hair follicle and remains detectable even 24 hours later!

Clinical study

Study on the penetration of caffeine from a shampoo formula⁷

Conducted at the Centre for Experimental and Applied Cutaneous Physiology and the Clinical Research Centre for Hair and Skin Physiology at the Charité University Hospital, Berlin

Further studies & research results

Discover all studies

Sources

¹ Fischer T.W., Hipler U.C., Elsner P., int. J. of Dermatology, 2007, 46, 27-35.

² Blessels G. J., J. of Alzheimer’s Disease, 2010, 20, 143-150. Also Goto A., DIABETES, 2011, 60, 269-275 as well as Mark A. Pereira, Emily D. Parker, Aaron R. Folsom, ARCH INTERN MED., 2006, 166, 1311-1311-1316. 8 ) Sisto T., Bussoletti C., Celleno L., J. Appl. Cosmeto., 2013, 31, 47-56.

³ Williams C.J., DIABETES CARE, 2008, 31, 504-507.

⁴ Modi A. A., Feld J. J. et al, Hepatology, 2010, 51, 201-209.

⁵ Song F., Cancer Res, 2012, 72, 3282-3289.

⁶ Jernstroem H., Br. J. of Cancer, 2008, 99, 1534-1538.

⁷ Otberg N, Teichmann A, Rasuljev U, Sinkgraven R, Sterry W, Lademann J (2007): Follicular penetration of topically applied caffeine via a shampoo formulation. Skin Pharmacol Physiol.;20(4):195-8.

Guide

Recommended for you

A young man looks critically into the mirror to identify the first signs of hereditary hair loss

Help with hereditary hair loss

Find out how you can effectively counteract hereditary hair loss - without the use of medication!

A man with dark hair leans forward, presenting the back of his head as a symbol for the causes of hair loss.

Causes and reasons for hair loss

Genetic predisposition is not the only factor that plays an important role in hair loss. Reduced blood circulation on the scalp, external environmental factors, stress and illness can also contribute to hair loss.

A young man looks critically in the mirror, examining his receding hairline as an early sign of hereditary hair loss.

Receding hairline: a wake-up call to act in the case of hereditary hair loss

Recognise receding hairlines and find out how you can actively counteract them.

Product finder

Five different Alpecin shampoos arranged side by side in a triangular formation

Purely a matter of type: Find the ideal Alpecin for you

Discover which Alpecin product suits you best - tailored individually for strong hair and a healthy scalp.

Start product finder

* hereditary hair loss
** in vivo study, subgroup analysis, placebo-controlled, n=30 participants with hereditary hair loss