The title of this blog might sound silly, but the truth is that this is exactly what you need if you’re dealing with hair loss or thinning hair. There are many different opinions on how to handle hair loss, some of which can be crazy. A recent study on a new dietary supplement ingredient (ACTRISAVETM) suggests it may help you grow more hair and lose less. Before I share my findings on ACTRISAVETM, let’s explore what might be happening beneath the surface of hair loss.
Statistics [i]
- About 85% of men and 33% of women experience hair loss at some point. This issue is more common than you might realize. Male pattern baldness, or androgenetic alopecia, accounts for around 95% of cases of male hair loss.
- Over 65% of American men will experience some degree of hair loss by age thirty-five. By age fifty, about 85% of men will show signs of thinning hair.
If those numbers aren’t bad enough, hair loss also impacts other areas of our lives. Emotional effects include decreased self-esteem, depression, and negative effects on career and relationships. Regarding the last two points, 40% of women with alopecia have experienced problems in their marriage because of hair loss, and about 63% say they face issues related to their careers.[ii]
What contributes to hair loss?
Many factors can disrupt the hair growth cycle and cause hair loss. These factors include:
- Stress
- Medication
- Thyroid disease
- Radiation/Chemotherapy
- Hormonal and nutritional imbalances
- Certain skin diseases
- Genetics
Phases of Hair Growth
To understand why ACTRISAVETM caught my attention, we need to look at the first three phases of the hair growth cycle: Anagen, Catagen, and Telogen.
1st Phase: Anagen
The anagen phase, also known as the growth phase, marks the beginning of hair formation and growth. This is the longest phase and can last up to 5 years for scalp hairs. At any given time, about 90 percent of your hair is in this phase. The average hair on your head grows approximately ½ inch per month. During this phase, hair papilla cells play a crucial role in hair formation, growth, and cycling.[iii]
2ND Phase: Catagen
The catagen phase starts when the anagen phase ends and lasts 7 to 10 days. It is a transitional phase in which hair stops growing and detaches from the base of the follicle. About 1-3 percent of your follicles are in this stage.
3rd Phase: Telogen
The catagen phase starts when the anagen phase ends and lasts 7 to 10 days. It is a transitional phase in which hair stops growing and detaches from the base of the follicle. About 1-3 percent of your follicles are in this stage.
While the final phase (Exogen) isn’t crucial to our discussion, I thought it would be helpful to understand the entire cycle. Exogen is the process by which hair is released from the hair follicle and falls out. When this happens, the process can start over.
What do these phases mean for hair loss?
In individuals with androgenetic alopecia (more commonly known as male pattern baldness), the anagen phase shortens, while the telogen phase either remains the same or lengthens. The comparison of these two phases is called the anagen-to-telogen ratio. If the time spent in the anagen phase decreases and the time in the telogen phase either increases or remains unchanged, it results in more hair loss.
What is ACTRISAVETM?
ACTRISAVETM combines two ingredients common to the Mediterranean: black rice and prickly pear cactus flowers. This synergistic blend offers potent anthocyanins (antioxidants) from the dark pigments of brown rice, along with the high flavonoid content of prickly pear cactus flowers (PPCF). Flavonoids are naturally occurring plant compounds that, in the case of PPCF, provide benefits for skin and scalp moisture as well as immune support. This powerful combination creates a synergistic effect for both skin and hair.
What’s the Science Say?
In a recent seven-month study,[iv] ACTRISAVETM demonstrated benefits for hair growth in several areas.
- ACTRISAVETM supplementation raised the anagen percentage up to 80.3%
- ACTRISAVETM improved the anagen: telogen ratio by:
- 7% at three months
- 8% at six months.
- Clinical experts’ scoring of the hair growth cycle showed improvements of 63.4% at three months, 95.1% at six months, and 87.7% at seven months, even after the supplement was completed.
- Self-assessment scoring (product is effective at increasing hair growth):
- 8% of the people at three months
- 3% at six months
- 9% at seven months
- After one-month post-supplementation, the results were nearly stable.
- 3% of the subjects noticed the first results after one or two months of taking the supplement.
While there are no magic solutions for male pattern baldness, ACTRISAVETM provides solid science for those looking for a natural solution. My preferred way to address most health issues is by supporting the body from within. Since cells (like hairs) grow from the inside out, offering good nutritional support with an ingredient like ACTRISAVETM is a strong first step.
[i] Medihair website, Hair Loss Statistics (2023), https://medihair.com/en/hair-loss-statistics/, published 2022, accessed July 10, 2023
[ii] Medihair website, Hair Loss Statistics (2023), https://medihair.com/en/hair-loss-statistics/, published 2022, accessed July 10, 2023
[iii] Matsuzaki T, Yoshizato K. Role of hair papilla cells on induction and regeneration processes of hair follicles. Wound Repair Regen. 1998 Nov-Dec;6(6):524-30. doi: 10.1046/j.1524-475x.1998.60605.x. PMID: 9893172.
[iv] Cestone, Enza, Eleonora Spartà, Vincenzo Nobile and Vincenzo Zaccaria, et al. “Efficacy of Oryza Sativa L. (Black Rice) and Opuntia Ficus Indica L. Blend in Men with Androgenetic Alopecia: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial.” J Cosmo Tricho 9 (2023): 207.