According to Shereene Idriss, a certified dermatologist and founder of Idriss Dermatology, anti-dandruff shampoo is not only beneficial for treating dandruff, but can also help reduce hair loss. The video was uploaded on TikTok on March 9th and has been viewed more than 3.1 million times. Anushya Vijayaraghevan, a TikToker pharmacist, also expressed her opinion in the video. She recommends using a shampoo that contains ketoconazole as part of a strategy to combat hair loss, which should be combined with other treatments.

According to Idriss, ketoconazole has been proven effective in treating androgenetic alopecia, which is the main cause of hair loss in men and women. The antiandrogen properties of ketoconazole allow it to combat the sex hormones responsible for androgenetic alopecia. Additionally, this substance is also capable of reducing the levels of dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a hormone that plays a role in excessive hair loss, and potentially stimulates hair regrowth.

"Not only focusing on the role of ketoconazole in addressing androgenetic alopecia, there are several other reasons why the use of anti-dandruff shampoo in general can help prevent hair loss. One of them is the ability of this shampoo to alleviate inflammation on the scalp, which can protect against hair loss, according to the explanation from Ife J. Rodney, MD, a founding director of Eternal Dermatology, Aesthetics, and also a professor of dermatology at the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences."

One popular brand of anti-dandruff shampoo is Nizoral, which contains ketoconazole. It is recommended to wash your hair using this shampoo about twice a week for eight consecutive weeks. Shampoos with ketoconazole content can be used continuously, as long as they do not cause reactions such as itching, burning sensation, skin rash, or excessive dryness of the hair.

Individuals experiencing androgenetic alopecia may be prescribed topical treatments such as minoxidil, oral therapy, light therapy, or other options. Treatment for other types of hair loss may vary slightly. For example, hair loss caused by alopecia areata, an autoimmune condition, can be treated with topical steroids. On the other hand, hair loss caused by tinea capitis may require the use of oral antifungal medication.