What is oxygen therapy for hair loss? Does it really work?
By Prof. Dr. Soner Tatlidede 2021-03-05
Oxygen therapy for hair loss is an innovative therapy increasingly used to revitalise scalp and hair, using oxygen with a purity of 99%, which has the ability to deeply hydrate and invigorate both skin and hair. It is a quite recommended technique, especially for people with very damaged hair due to aggressive treatments (dyeing, ironing, permanent wave...) or with weak hair.
It is important to say that oxygen therapy is not an alternative to hair transplant, another very popular technique in recent years thanks to the good reviews by those who get this treatment and the affordable prices offered by countries like Turkey. But in some cases, oxygen therapy can be a good preventive treatment, and even complementary to hair transplants. Let's see how it works, its benefits... and its cons.
What is oxygen treatment for hair?
Hair can become weak or seriously damaged due to seasonal changes or very aggressive hairdressing treatments, causing hair to become weak and brittle and to fall out more easily. When these symptoms appear, it is important to find a proper hair treatment before they get worse; in this regard, oxygen therapy has an increased demand due to the benefits of oxygen for hair.
This technique takes advantage of the regenerative and antioxidant properties of oxygen, hydrating and nourishing hair so that it regains strength, elasticity, shine and texture; to get this, a machine applies almost pure oxygen to the scalp, opening hair fibres and thus allowing the regenerative treatments applied together with the oxygen to penetrate better.
These treatments usually consist of a supply of nutrients, peptides, vitamins and other elements that strengthen hair and prevent hair loss; they are applied during oxygen therapy in an intervention that has several phases, and that - depending on each case - can last from 5 to 15 minutes. In this way, and in combination with pure oxygen, it is possible to stimulate cellular regeneration in the scalp and revitalise hair.
Is oxygen good for your hair?
Oxygen therapy has several undeniable benefits for hair: it gives hair shine, volume and elasticity, strengthening hair and repairing it, and preventing hair from falling out, too. In addition, by using this treatment hair becomes more manageable and mouldable, so it is easier to comb.
The benefits of this therapy are also applicable to scalp, which becomes nourished and hydrated, balancing its PH and preventing the appearance of problems such as dryness, irritation, dandruff, excess of sebum, etc. In some cases, and depending on the causes of alopecia, oxygen therapy can also help to delay hair loss or to slow down the process.
Although - unless if we suffer from certain diseases - anyone can get this treatment, as we aforementioned this therapy is especially indicated for people whose hair has been damaged by continuous dyeing, use of permanent waves or chemical products, or by those whose hair is weak or dry due to repeated use of hair straighteners. It is also useful if we suffer from scalp conditions or hair loss problems.
What are the cons of this therapy?
Despite its benefits, oxygen therapy also has cons and drawbacks. First of all, it is a treatment that requires multiple sessions over several months: 4, 6, 12, 18... It all depends on hair condition and the characteristics of the patient. These sessions must be complemented with care at home; and once the treatment is finished, it is necessary to carry out periodically - every 1 or 2 months - new sessions to maintain the results obtained.
Therefore, this is a therapy that, although it can obtain good results, these are achieved after a long time and are not permanent. For example, oxygen therapy can be used to strengthen hair and prevent hair loss; but to get this it will be necessary to get multiple sessions for more than a year; and in any case, results will only be achieved if the alopecia is not very advanced... and, of course, hair will not grow back there where it has disappeared.
Another important point to take into account is that oxygen therapy is not recommended for medical reasons in patients who suffer or have suffered in the past of heart problems or angina pectoris, hypertension, epilepsy, respiratory problems, infections, kidney problems or cancer. It is also not recommended for pregnant women.
In any case, in the face of serious hair loss problems, the only lasting solution is to get a hair transplant; but oxygen therapy for hair loss can be a suitable treatment to strengthen hair before or after the transplant, always under supervision of a professional medical team. Clinicana is the best hair transplant clinic in Turkey: request a free consultation online and ask for a free, no obligation estimate on the best treatment for you. It´s not too late to get your hair back!
