Caffeine effective in preventing hair loss

Adolf Klenk, head of research and regulatory affairs at Dr. Wolff, speaks about caffeine’s effectiveness in preventing hair loss during a press conference at the Westin Chosun Hotel, Seoul, Thursday. The German pharmaceutical and cosmetics firm officially launched Alpecin caffeine shampoo and other hair care products in Korea. / Courtesy of Dr. Wolff

• Published Mar 23, 2017 4:36 PM KST
• Updated Mar 23, 2017 4:36 PM KST

By Lee Hyo-sik

Caffeine is effective in preventing hair loss, according to a 113-year-old German cosmetics firm, Thursday, which said Korean consumers concerned about losing their hair will greatly benefit from its shampoo and other hair care products.

“An increasing number of Koreans, including those in their 20s and 30s, suffer from hair loss. But unfortunately, most of them don’t know that caffeine can help them prevent or slow baldness,” Adolf Klenk, head of research and regulatory affairs at Dr. Wolff, told reporters at a press conference.

“After conducting numerous tests over the years, Dr. Wolff found out that caffeine works better than any other known substances in preventing or slowing hair loss,” Klenk said. “We hope that many consumers here reap benefits from using our scientifically proven products that contain caffeine. Many studies proved that caffeine has a positive effect on counteracting hereditary hair loss.”

Founded in 1905, Dr. Wolff first introduced the Alpecin brand in 1930 for scalp care. In the early 2000s, Alpecin introduced its first caffeine-containing product, Alpecin Liquid, a caffeinated hair tonic.

Alpecin caffeine shampoo, the brand’s best-selling product, has become the top male hair loss shampoo in Germany, and is now available in more than 40 countries.

Worldwide, over 100 million bottles of its caffeine-containing hair products have been sold, according to Klenk.

“On our behalf, Nielsen Korea recently conducted a survey of 801 Korean men aged 25 to 45. About 47 percent of respondents say they suffer from hair loss, citing stress and other reasons,” he said. “But only 9 percent of them were aware that caffeine is an effective stimulant for preventing hair loss, while many believed that green tea, Oriental medicine, heartleaf, ginseng and vitamins are more effective. However, scientific studies prove that caffeine helps.”

Due to caffeine, the hair roots receive the necessary energy for growth despite the testosterone attack, according to the German researcher, who said the caffeine-based Alpecin formula is proven to be effective by counteracting the shortening growth phases of the hair.

“Using the caffeine shampoo from an early age, on a daily basis, will help keep the hair roots active. It is vital to act when mild hair loss is noticed or if one is prone to the issue genetically,” he said. “Although caffeine does not aid in growing new hair on a bald scalp, when used correctly and in the long term, Alpecin can fight hereditary hair loss and prevent baldness for a certain period of time.”

Dr. Wolff will soon begin an aggressive marketing campaign to raise the awareness of its Alpecin brand among Korean consumers to bolster both online and offline sales.