CBD may promote hair growth, but other cannabinoids could cause hair loss
A review found that topical CBD at the right concentration may promote hair growth, with one trial reporting a 93.5% increase in hair count, but some cannabinoids had the opposite effect.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
CBD appeared to promote hair growth, but the effect was concentration-dependent. At high concentrations (10 micromolar or above), CBD may actually cause hair loss. One trial found that daily application of a CBD-rich topical extract for six months increased nonvellus hair count by approximately 93.5% in 35 patients with androgenetic alopecia.
Key Numbers
93.5% increase in nonvellus hair count in 35 patients (28 males, 7 females) after 6 months of daily topical CBD application. Each application contained 3-4 mg of CBD. The extract was 10.78% CBD and 0.21% THC.
How They Did This
Comprehensive structured search of PubMed and Google Scholar (June 2022) reviewing studies on cannabinoid effects on hair growth and loss.
Why This Research Matters
Hair loss affects millions of people, and the growing availability of CBD products has led to consumer interest in cannabinoid-based hair treatments. Understanding which cannabinoids help versus harm is important before these products proliferate.
The Bigger Picture
The concentration-dependent effect of CBD on hair illustrates a broader pattern in cannabinoid research: dose and formulation matter enormously, and more is not necessarily better.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
The key trial was a single uncontrolled study with 35 participants. The review included limited clinical evidence. Optimal CBD concentrations for hair growth have not been established in controlled trials.
Questions This Raises
- ?What is the optimal CBD concentration for hair growth?
- ?Do other phytocannabinoids in full-spectrum products counteract CBD's hair-promoting effects?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- 93.5% increase in hair count with daily topical CBD over 6 months
- Evidence Grade:
- Review drawing primarily on one uncontrolled clinical trial with 35 participants and limited preclinical data.
- Study Age:
- Published in 2022, literature search through June 2022.
- Original Title:
- A cannabinoid Hairy-Tale: Hair loss or hair gain?
- Published In:
- Journal of cosmetic dermatology, 21(12), 6653-6660 (2022)
- Authors:
- Gupta, Aditya K, Talukder, Mesbah
- Database ID:
- RTHC-03894
Evidence Hierarchy
Summarizes existing research on a topic.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
Can CBD help with hair loss?
One trial reported a 93.5% increase in hair count after 6 months of daily topical CBD application, but this was an uncontrolled study and more research is needed.
Can cannabinoids cause hair loss?
Yes. While CBD at low concentrations appeared to promote growth, several other phytocannabinoids and CBD at high concentrations (above 10 micromolar) were associated with hair loss in the reviewed studies.
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Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-03894APA
Gupta, Aditya K; Talukder, Mesbah. (2022). A cannabinoid Hairy-Tale: Hair loss or hair gain?. Journal of cosmetic dermatology, 21(12), 6653-6660. https://doi.org/10.1111/jocd.15427
MLA
Gupta, Aditya K, et al. "A cannabinoid Hairy-Tale: Hair loss or hair gain?." Journal of cosmetic dermatology, 2022. https://doi.org/10.1111/jocd.15427
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "A cannabinoid Hairy-Tale: Hair loss or hair gain?" RTHC-03894. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/gupta-2022-a-cannabinoid-hairytale-hair
Access the Original Study
Study data sourced from PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
This study breakdown was produced by the RethinkTHC research team. We analyze and report published research findings without making health recommendations. All interpretations are based solely on the published abstract and study data.