{"id":9897,"date":"2026-05-31T16:16:56","date_gmt":"2026-05-31T16:16:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.healthoptibody.com\/?p=9897"},"modified":"2026-05-31T16:16:56","modified_gmt":"2026-05-31T16:16:56","slug":"magic-12-drugstore-shampoo-fights-hair-loss-better-than-expensive-alternatives-it-was-meant-to-be-a-dandruff-cure-but-the-evidence-doctors-are-seeing-is-overwhelming","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.healthoptibody.com\/?p=9897","title":{"rendered":"Magic $12 drugstore shampoo fights hair loss better than expensive alternatives. It was meant to be a dandruff cure&#8230; but the evidence doctors are seeing is overwhelming"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><\/p>\n<div itemprop=\"articleBody\">\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Forget expensive serums or tailor-made hair loss treatments.\u00a0An anti-dandruff shampoo, available for a mere $12 in most drugstores, could beat out high-end products at thickening and regrowing hair.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Or at least, that was the eye-catching claim made in a viral Instagram post by <a style=\"font-weight: bold;\" target=\"_self\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dailymail.com\/news\/new_york\/index.html\" id=\"mol-b8031ba0-59ff-11f1-9708-2d94141fd159\" class=\"\">New York City<\/a>\u00a0dermatologist Dr Mark Strom earlier this month.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">&#8216;Eight years as a dermatologist and still no one believes me when I tell them&#8230; This drugstore dandruff shampoo will grow you hair better than any fancy shampoo DESIGNED to do that,&#8217; read the headline.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Below it, a picture of a hand holding a pack of Nizoral anti-dandruff shampoo.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Strom has amassed more than one million followers on the platform, in part for revealing how cheap, easy to obtain skin and haircare products often produce similar, if not better results compared to luxury versions.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">But his revelation about Nizoral and its power to regrow hair made the internet sit up and take notice, with one such post garnering 160,000 likes and 117,000 shares.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Commentors on the post were clearly startled.\u00a0&#8216;Nizoral? Grow hair? How? Genuinely curious,&#8217; questioned one, summing up the general theme.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Now, scalp specialists speaking to the Daily Mail have backed Strom&#8217;s claims.\u00a0Christine McMillan, a board-certified trichologist, put it simply: for its accessible price, Nizoral gives &#8216;a real bang for your buck.&#8217;<\/p>\n<div class=\"artSplitter mol-img-group\" style=\"\">\n<div class=\"mol-img\">\n<div class=\"image-wrap\"> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" id=\"i-b24e99c0e82af7c7\" src=\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.com\/1s\/2026\/05\/28\/21\/108940057-15850347-By_reducing_irritation_and_restoring_a_healthier_scalp_environme-a-8_1779999616129.jpg\" height=\"517\" width=\"634\" alt=\"By reducing irritation and restoring a healthier scalp environment, Nizoral helps create conditions where follicles can grow thicker, healthier hair\" class=\"blkBorder img-share\" style=\"max-width:100%\" loading=\"lazy\" \/> <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p class=\"imageCaption\">By reducing irritation and restoring a healthier scalp environment, Nizoral helps create conditions where follicles can grow thicker, healthier hair<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"artSplitter mol-img-group\" style=\"\">\n<div class=\"mol-img\">\n<div class=\"image-wrap\"> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" id=\"i-1240a2acfb619b5b\" src=\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.com\/1s\/2026\/05\/29\/13\/108911663-15850347-Dr_Mark_Strom_a_prominent_New_York_City_based_dermatologist_tell-a-90_1780058866132.jpg\" height=\"633\" width=\"634\" alt=\"Dr Mark Strom, a prominent New York City-based dermatologist, tells his one million Instagram followers that 'Simple and affordable products' can help keep skin and hair 'glowing and full'\" class=\"blkBorder img-share\" style=\"max-width:100%\" loading=\"lazy\" \/> <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p class=\"imageCaption\">Dr Mark Strom, a prominent New York City-based dermatologist, tells his one million Instagram followers that &#8216;Simple and affordable products&#8217; can help keep skin and hair &#8216;glowing and full&#8217;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><iframe data-xpmodule-iframe-resizable=\"\" scrolling=\"no\" name=\"xp-iframe-mptzbgyntijout0pa7h\" class=\"iframe-creator \" src=\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/i\/html_modules\/Annie\/tests\/240905-healthsubheading-finalversion\/index.html\" allow=\"clipboard-write\" height=\"45\" style=\"border: 0; width: 0; min-width: 100%; \" id=\"xp-iframe-mptzbgyntijout0pa7h\"><\/p>\n<p>Your browser does not support iframes.<\/p>\n<p>    <\/iframe><\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">So what is in Nizoral, and how does it help restore thinning hair?\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">The key is its active ingredient, ketoconazole, an antifungal medication.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Its main function is to kill fungi and yeasts, particularly Malassezia, which live on the scalp and are the main cause of dandruff.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">But it also has an anti-inflammatory effect.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">When yeast levels become excessive, they can trigger inflammation in the scalp, activating immune responses that either directly attack hair follicles or damage the surrounding tissue.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">This disruption pushes hairs out of the active growing phase and into the shedding phase.\u00a0Over time, chronic inflammation can shrink or scar follicles and make regrowth more difficult.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">By reducing irritation and restoring a healthier scalp environment, Nizoral helps create conditions where follicles can grow thicker, healthier hair.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">This is why it is not considered a primary hair growth drug like minoxidil or finasteride, which directly target the biological drivers of hair loss. Instead, it supports scalp health and may slightly reduce factors linked to thinning.<\/p>\n<div class=\"artSplitter mol-img-group\" style=\"\">\n<div class=\"mol-img\">\n<div class=\"image-wrap\"> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" id=\"i-7b232d1022e61f7b\" src=\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.com\/1s\/2026\/05\/28\/19\/108885529-15850347-Nizoral_a_12_drugstore_anti_dandruff_shampoo_has_built_a_reputat-a-5_1779992234975.jpg\" height=\"636\" width=\"634\" alt=\"Nizoral, a $12 drugstore anti-dandruff shampoo, has built a reputation among scalp specialists for helping to create the right conditions for hair to grow thicker\" class=\"blkBorder img-share\" style=\"max-width:100%\" loading=\"lazy\" \/> <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p class=\"imageCaption\">Nizoral, a $12 drugstore anti-dandruff shampoo, has built a reputation among scalp specialists for helping to create the right conditions for hair to grow thicker<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Hair loss specialists generally suggest using it two to three times a week, leaving it on the scalp for three to five minutes before rinsing.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">&#8216;Ketoconazole sits at the intersection of scalp health and hair growth support,&#8217;\u00a0McMillan said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">&#8216;A scalp that is chronically inflamed due to yeast and fungal overgrowth, is excessively oily, flaky and itchy, is not exactly fertile soil for healthy hair.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">&#8216;The benefit is less about dramatically regrowing hair and more about calming the environment surrounding the follicles.&#8217;<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Trichologist Hannah Gaboardi, founder of the Hannah\u00a0Gaboardi Clinic in London, said there was &#8216;limited clinical evidence&#8217; for many products on drugstore shelves that claim to remedy hair loss, including those containing caffeine and biotin.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">However ketoconazole &#8216;is often recommended for patients with progressive thinning or hair loss.&#8217;<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">&#8216;In the clinic we suggest using ketoconazole shampoo alongside clinically proven treatments such as minoxidil or finasteride,&#8217; Gaboardi added.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">&#8216;The only downside is that it can be drying and may not be suitable for all hair types, particularly drier or afro-textured hair.&#8217;<\/p>\n<div class=\"artSplitter mol-img-group\" style=\"\">\n<div class=\"mol-img\">\n<div class=\"image-wrap\"> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" id=\"i-a7f7505060d956bf\" src=\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.com\/1s\/2026\/05\/27\/18\/108885769-15850347-Christine_McMillan_pictured_left_Board_Certified_Trichologist_a_-a-18_1779903094152.jpg\" height=\"630\" width=\"634\" alt=\"Christine McMillan works on a client's scalp. She told the Daily Mail that a scalp that's always inflamed, greasy, flaky, itchy or out of microbial balance is not conducive to healthy hair growth\" class=\"blkBorder img-share\" style=\"max-width:100%\" loading=\"lazy\" \/> <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p class=\"imageCaption\">Christine McMillan works on a client&#8217;s scalp. She told the Daily Mail that a scalp that&#8217;s always inflamed, greasy, flaky, itchy or out of microbial balance is not conducive to healthy hair growth<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">A 1998 study published in the journal Dermatology reported that two percent ketoconazole shampoo was nearly as effective as two percent minoxidil \u2013 commonly known as Rogaine \u2013 at making hair thicker, denser and more actively growing.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">The research, understandably, generated a lot of excitement.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">However Dr Ken Anderson, a board-certified hair restoration expert and founder of the Anderson Center for Hair, advised caution.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">&#8216;In medicine, one small study is rarely enough to completely change how we treat patients \u2013 especially when we already have treatments like minoxidil and finasteride with much larger bodies of evidence behind them,&#8217; he said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">&#8216;Ketoconazole shampoo can be a useful addition for certain patients if they also struggle with dandruff or scalp inflammation.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">&#8216;It just should not be thought of as a replacement for proven hair loss medications.&#8217;<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Ketoconazole may also have a mild effect on hormones in the scalp that contribute to certain types of hair loss, although this is relatively weak compared with established treatments.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Specifically, it may block the conversion of testosterone into dihydrotestosterone (DHT), the hormone responsible for shrinking hair follicles in male and female pattern baldness.<\/p>\n<div class=\"artSplitter mol-img-group\" style=\"\">\n<div class=\"mol-img\">\n<div class=\"image-wrap\"> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" id=\"i-c99c5a1cf02ce0f\" src=\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.com\/1s\/2026\/05\/28\/19\/108940181-15850347-Experts_suggest_using_Nizoral_two_to_three_times_a_week_leaving_-a-4_1779992234974.jpg\" height=\"952\" width=\"634\" alt=\"Experts suggest using Nizoral two to three times a week and leaving it on for about five minutes\u00a0\u2013 but, they warn that more is not always better\" class=\"blkBorder img-share\" style=\"max-width:100%\" loading=\"lazy\" \/> <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p class=\"imageCaption\">Experts suggest using Nizoral two to three times a week and leaving it on for about five minutes\u00a0\u2013 but, they warn that more is not always better<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">&#8216;Androgens, specifically a hormone called DHT, are the main reason hair follicles shrink and stop producing hair in people with pattern hair loss,&#8217; Anderson said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">A 2004 study in the journal <a style=\"font-weight: bold;\" class=\"\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sciencedirect.com\/science\/article\/pii\/S0306987703002640\">Medical Hypotheses<\/a> found that ketoconazole could be a viable treatment for male pattern baldness.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">For nearly six months, a group of men in their 20s and early 30s used two percent ketoconazole shampoo two to four times per week. Another group used a regular shampoo with no medication.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Researchers used a measurement called &#8216;pilary index&#8217; to track hair changes. The pilary index combines the number of hairs actively growing and their thickness. Multiplying those together produces an overall score for hair quality.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">The men using regular shampoo saw their pilary index score decline over time, meaning their hair got progressively worse, with fewer growing hairs and thinner strands.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">The men using ketoconazole shampoo saw their pilary index score go up over time, indicating that their hair actually improved, with more hairs entering the growth phase and thicker strands.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Still, none of this makes Nizoral a miracle cure. Experts agree it is not as potent as prescription drugs.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">&#8216;In my opinion, ketoconazole makes the most sense as an adjunctive treatment rather than a standalone hair regrowth hero,&#8217;\u00a0McMillan said. &#8216;Expectation matters here.&#8217;<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Anderson recommended that most people begin with the one percent formula of Nizoral available at drugstores. For more severe dandruff, itching or scalp irritation, the prescription two percent version is likely a better fit.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">&#8216;In general, I would usually recommend using it two to three times a week and leaving it on the scalp for five minutes before rinsing,&#8217; Anderson said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">&#8216;More is not always better, because overusing medicated shampoos can sometimes dry out or irritate the scalp further.&#8217;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Forget expensive serums or tailor-made hair loss treatments.\u00a0An anti-dandruff shampoo, available for a mere $12 in most drugstores, could beat out high-end products at thickening and regrowing hair. Or at least, that was the eye-catching claim made in a viral Instagram post by New York City\u00a0dermatologist Dr Mark Strom earlier this month.\u00a0 &#8216;Eight years as<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":9898,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_bunyad_sub_title":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[520],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-9897","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-hot"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.healthoptibody.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9897","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.healthoptibody.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.healthoptibody.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.healthoptibody.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.healthoptibody.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=9897"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.healthoptibody.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9897\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.healthoptibody.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/9898"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.healthoptibody.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=9897"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.healthoptibody.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=9897"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.healthoptibody.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=9897"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}