Small Case Series Links Cannabinoid-Rich Hemp Topical to Hair Regrowth

A small 2023 case series found that a cannabinoid-rich hemp topical was associated with increased hair counts in adults with androgenetic alopecia, the most common form of patterned hair loss. The findings are preliminary, however: the study had only 31 participants, no placebo group, and no direct comparison with standard treatments.

The research, published in the International Journal of Trichology, followed 15 men and 16 women with androgenetic alopecia, also known as male or female pattern hair loss. In men, the condition commonly affects the temples and crown. In women, it more often causes diffuse thinning over the top of the scalp while leaving the frontal hairline relatively intact. The condition is influenced by genetic and hormonal factors and becomes more common with age.

Participants applied the formulation once daily for six months. The product contained several hemp-derived cannabinoids, including cannabidiol (CBD), cannabidivarin (CBDV), and tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV), along with menthol and peppermint oil. The researchers estimated that participants applied approximately 33 milligrams of hemp extract per day.

To measure changes, the investigators marked the area of greatest hair loss with a small permanent tattoo and counted nonvellus hairs within a one-square-centimeter area before treatment and again after six months. Participants also rated whether they perceived an improvement in scalp coverage, while an independent physician reviewed standardized photographs.

Hair counts increased in every participant. On average, the number of counted hairs rose by about 246% among men and 127% among women. Across the full group, the average increase was approximately 164%, equivalent to roughly 15 to 16 additional hairs per square centimeter in the measured area. The percentage increases appear large in part because some participants started with very low hair counts.

All participants described themselves as either happy or very happy with the perceived change in scalp coverage. The physician reviewing the photographs judged every participant to have between mild and extensive improvement. No significant adverse effects were reported during the six-month period.

The researchers proposed that the cannabinoids may influence hair follicles through the endocannabinoid system, including cannabinoid receptor 1 and transient receptor potential channels. They also suggested that menthol and peppermint oil could help promote the anagen, or active-growth, phase of the hair cycle. Separate animal research on peppermint oil has reported hair-growth effects in mice, but those findings cannot establish that peppermint oil or menthol produces the same effect in humans.

The study’s design limits what can be concluded. It was an open-label case series rather than a randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Participants knew they were receiving the product, and the researchers measured hair in a single selected area of the scalp. The study also tested a combination of cannabinoids, peppermint oil, menthol, and other ingredients, so it cannot determine which component—or combination of components—was responsible for the observed changes.

The authors described the hemp formulation as producing better results than oral finasteride, 5% minoxidil foam, and CBD alone. Those comparisons were based on results from separate studies, not on a head-to-head trial involving the same participants. The case series therefore cannot establish that the hemp product is more effective than established treatments. For context, the American Academy of Dermatology identifies topical minoxidil and finasteride as established treatment options for male pattern hair loss, while treatment choices for women require separate medical consideration.

The trial was registered on ClinicalTrials.gov and received product support from CBDLuxe, the company that supplied the tested formulation. Larger randomized trials with placebo or active-treatment comparison groups, longer follow-up, standardized hair-density measurements, and independent funding would be needed to determine whether cannabinoid-rich hemp topicals provide a reliable treatment for androgenetic alopecia.

For now, the findings suggest an area for further research—not proof that hemp-derived topicals can replace minoxidil, finasteride, or other dermatologist-guided treatments.