Does saw palmetto prevent hair loss or only slow down hair loss that's already started?

Saw palmetto, also known as Serenoa repens, has gained notoriety as a natural remedy for hair loss, especially in men with androgenetic alopecia, the most common form of baldness.

But amid this growing popularity, a fundamental question arises:

does it actually prevent hair loss or merely slow down a process that has already begun?

How is saw palmetto supposed to work on the scalp?

The main mechanism attributed to saw palmetto is its potential ability to inhibit an enzyme called 5-alpha-reductase.

This enzyme converts testosterone into dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a hormone that has been linked to the shrinking of hair follicles and, eventually, to progressive hair loss.

In theory, by reducing DHT production, saw palmetto could help keep hair follicles healthy for longer.

What is hair loss, and how is it different from scalp disease?

Hair loss can be caused by many factors. When we talk about prevention, we refer to avoiding the onset of deterioration in people who have no visible symptoms yet. In contrast, slowing down hair loss implies intervening once the process has already started.

Natural shedding—such as what occurs during brushing or showering—is not the same as pathological hair loss associated with scalp conditions, infections, or the impact of DHT.

Androgenetic alopecia is a form of hair loss that responds to DHT and progresses over time.

DHT (dihydrotestosterone) binds to receptors in the hair follicles, causing them to shrink, which leads to thinner, weaker hair.

Over time, this may result in follicle death, making the loss irreversible.

In contrast, conditions such as seborrheic dermatitis or fungal infections directly affect the health of the scalp or follicle through inflammation or infection, and require different treatments.

At what stage can the placebo effect play a role? And when is it no longer useful?

The placebo effect can play a role in the early stages, especially when the patient doesn't yet show visible signs of hair loss but is highly focused on their appearance or anxious about hair health. In such cases, a positive expectation about a supplement may create a subjective perception of improvement.

However, once physical symptoms like redness, persistent itching, visibly miniaturized follicles, or clear thinning patches appear, placebo is not enough. At that point, DHT has already triggered a process that requires more specific, clinically proven interventions.

Stages of androgenetic alopecia and how saw palmetto may help at each one

Androgenetic alopecia progresses through different phases.

In the early stages, the signs are subtle: thinning hair around the temples or crown, increased hair loss during washing or brushing, and a sense of reduced volume.

This is where saw palmetto may be most useful.

If it manages to partially inhibit the 5-alpha-reductase enzyme, it may reduce the conversion of testosterone into DHT and slow the process.

In the intermediate stages, follicles have already begun to miniaturize. Hair becomes thinner and grows less frequently. At this point, saw palmetto might offer mild containment, but its effects are less significant compared to treatments like finasteride or minoxidil.

In advanced stages, where visible bald patches exist and follicles have atrophied, no natural supplement has been proven to reverse the condition.

Here, the most common treatments include approved drugs or even hair transplants.

What studies say: hope or hype?

One of the most cited studies on the subject was published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine in 2002. This study, conducted by Prager et al., evaluated the effect of saw palmetto in men with androgenetic alopecia.

It was a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial with 19 men aged 23 to 64. For 24 weeks, participants took 200 mg of saw palmetto extract twice daily. The results showed that 60% of those taking saw palmetto experienced hair growth improvement, compared to only 11% in the placebo group.

However, this study has important limitations: the sample size was small, making it hard to generalize the results. Additionally, the method for assessing hair growth was not standardized, and the level of DHT reduction in the scalp was not detailed.

In 2012, a more robust study was published in the International Journal of Immunopathology and Pharmacology. Conducted by Rossi et al., it included 100 patients with mild to moderate androgenetic alopecia. The 24-month study compared the effects of 320 mg daily of saw palmetto with 1 mg daily of finasteride (an FDA-approved drug for treating androgenetic alopecia). Results showed that 38% of those taking saw palmetto experienced hair growth, compared to 68% in the finasteride group.

This study is relevant due to its longer duration, inclusion of a comparative group using a standard treatment, and a more significant number of participants. However, it also had drawbacks: although clinical evaluations and phototrichograms (a method measuring hair density and thickness) were used, there was no placebo group, limiting the ability to isolate the effect of saw palmetto alone.

Can it be used as prevention before hair loss starts?

To date, there are no published clinical studies evaluating the use of saw palmetto in people without hair loss as a preventive strategy.

Most research has focused on individuals who already show some degree of alopecia. Therefore, there is not enough evidence to claim that saw palmetto can prevent hair loss before it manifests.

Most studies suggest that its effect centers on stabilizing existing hair loss, preventing it from advancing quickly. In other words, saw palmetto may function better as a containment measure than as a preventive shield.

Safety and side effects: a risk-free option?

In general, saw palmetto is considered safe when used in moderate doses (usually between 160 mg and 320 mg daily).

According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, the most common side effects are mild and include gastrointestinal discomfort and headaches. However, it may interact with hormonal medications or blood thinners, so it's always best to consult a healthcare professional before starting any supplement.

In short: natural solution or placebo with potential?

Saw palmetto shows some evidence that it may slow the progression of androgenetic alopecia, especially in its early stages.

However, studies to date do not support its use as a preventive tool in people with no signs of hair loss. Nor has it proven to be as effective as approved treatments like finasteride.

Still, it may be a reasonable alternative for those seeking natural options, especially if they are in the early stages of hair thinning and wish to avoid potential side effects of conventional drugs.

User Experiences

Community feedback on the use of saw palmetto for hair loss presents a varied picture, with many users emphasizing its limited effectiveness compared to mainstream treatments like finasteride and minoxidil.

A recurring theme across posts is that saw palmetto may offer mild benefits in slowing hair loss, but few see it as a reliable prevention method, especially for those not yet experiencing visible loss.

One user noted that saw palmetto and pumpkin seed oil were largely ineffective for regrowth, describing them as inferior to pharmaceutical options like finasteride and minoxidil. They viewed these natural DHT blockers as weak, suggesting they shouldn't be relied on alone. Another echoed this sentiment, stating that while saw palmetto might slightly reduce DHT, its effects are minimal unless used alongside other supplements like beta sitosterol and pygeum. They also mentioned support treatments like scalp massages and microneedling, but reiterated that none matched the efficacy of finasteride

Some users do report mild success. One described using Procerin—a supplement containing saw palmetto and pumpkin seed oil—and experiencing similar hair thickening effects to finasteride. However, they also noted side effects like reduced libido and watery ejaculation, prompting them to lower the dosage.

A more favorable outcome came from a user who credited saw palmetto with curing their "DHT itch," a persistent scalp itch often associated with androgenic alopecia. They combined it with rosemary oil and vitamins, which improved their symptoms. However, other users in the thread favored finasteride for long-term results, highlighting a split between natural and pharmaceutical approaches.

Not all experiences were positive. One post critically reviewed saw palmetto’s reputation, calling out its overblown claims. The user referenced scientific literature suggesting that saw palmetto does not effectively inhibit DHT or significantly treat hair loss, branding most product marketing as misleading.

Another long-term finasteride user described their regret after discontinuing saw palmetto and rosemary oil. They experienced a significant hair shed after stopping, but noted that reintroducing saw palmetto led to side effects. This raised concerns among users about its hormonal effects and the need for consistent use.

Some users consider saw palmetto a “weaker finasteride.” One individual, originally skeptical, came to believe that using it in combination with low-dose finasteride could potentially reduce side effects without sacrificing efficacy (Post ID 5717). However, in another post, a 17-year-old considering saw palmetto as a stopgap until finasteride was available received advice to stick with proven treatments like minoxidil and ketoconazole instead, due to saw palmetto’s weak effect (Post ID 11404).

So, does it prevent or only slow down hair loss?

Based on current evidence, saw palmetto does not act as a preventive shield that stops androgenetic alopecia from starting. Rather, its role seems to lie in offering resistance once hair loss has begun. It may be most useful for those noticing early signs of thinning who want to explore a natural option with a more favorable safety profile than traditional medications.

In other words: saw palmetto won’t stop the alarm from going off—but it might help it ring more quietly and slowly.

References

Prager, N., Bickett, K., French, N., & Marcovici, G. (2002). A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to determine the effectiveness of botanically derived inhibitors of 5-alpha-reductase in the treatment of androgenetic alopecia. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 8(2), 143–52. https://doi.org/10.1089/107555302317371451

Rossi, A., Mari, E., Scarno, M., Garelli, V., Maxia, C., Scali, E., & Carlesimo, M. (2012). Comparative effectiveness of finasteride vs. Serenoa repens in male androgenetic alopecia: A two-year study. International Journal of Immunopathology and Pharmacology, 25(4), 1167-1173. https://doi.org/10.1177/039463201202500429

U.S. National Library of Medicine. (2022). Saw Palmetto. MedlinePlus. https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/natural/971.html

National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. (2023). Saw Palmetto. NCCIH. https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/saw-palmetto

Tressless. (2025, April 12). Saw palmetto and Pumpkin seed oil natural DHT blockers. Reddit. https://reddit.com/r/tressless/comments/1jxebw3/saw_palmetto_and_pumpkin_seed_oil_natural_dht/

Tressless. (2024, September 29). (Topic) does saw palmetto actually work? Reddit. https://reddit.com/r/tressless/comments/1frvp6q/topic_does_saw_palmetto_actually_work/

Tressless. (2024, August 15). Saw Palmetto/Pumkin seed gives basically same results as Fin. Reddit. https://reddit.com/r/tressless/comments/1et1ii2/saw_palmettopumkin_seed_gives_basically_same/

Tressless. (2024, January 12). Saw Palmetto cured my insanely itchy scalp/DHT itch. Reddit. https://reddit.com/r/tressless/comments/1951mcd/saw_palmetto_cured_my_insanely_itchy_scalpdht_itch/

Tressless. (2022, March 8). Scientific Review: Saw Palmetto is not effective for treating hair loss and does not inhibit DHT to the extend that most people think. Anti-Hair loss claims are invalid. Reddit. https://reddit.com/r/tressless/comments/t9sonk/scientific_review_saw_palmetto_is_not_effective/

Tressless. (2024, December 16). 7+ years fin user, stopped saw palmetto/rosemary oil 3 months ago..biggest regret. Reddit. https://reddit.com/r/tressless/comments/1hfd9pd/7_years_fin_user_stopped_saw_palmettorosemary_oil/

Tressless. (2018, September 30). I attempted to explain why Saw Palmetto is BS, now I think taking it with Fin isn't a bad idea. Reddit. https://reddit.com/r/tressless/comments/9ka5dy/i_attempted_to_explain_why_saw_palmetto_is_bs_now/

Tressless. (2024, December 13). can saw palmetto help me even a little bit (17m). Reddit. https://reddit.com/r/tressless/comments/1hdblbt/can_saw_palmetto_help_me_even_a_little_bit_17m