Does Viviscal work? Touted by Hollywood stylists for use on celebrities like Kate Hudson (In Style Makeover), Viviscal promises “nourished thinning hair and promoted existing hair growth.” A peer-reviewed, double-blind study in the Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology demonstrates that twice-daily use of Viviscal results in the following:
- Significantly more control-treated subjects perceived improvements in overall hair volume, scalp coverage, and thickness of hair body after 90 days.
- Increased hair shine, skin moisture retention, and skin smoothness after 180 days.
As you age, the health of the hair and hair growth both decrease substantially. Statistics show that a whole range of factors, including stress, hormonal changes, overstyling, poor nutrition, age, menopause, post-pregnancy, and medication can impact the hair. By using supplements like Viviscal, you may be able to combat thinning hair and promote hair growth by nourishing hair.
But does Viviscal work? How does it work? Here, I’ll review the ingredients, and my own assessment of the supplement.
The marine complex AminoMar™ may really work
Of all the ingredients in Viviscal, I get the most excited about AminoMar™. Reported to nourish thinning hair and promote existing hair growth from within, AminoMar™ is a marine protein that is rich in amino acids that are necessary to rebuild and regrow new hair.
One theory is that AminoMar™ and other amino acid-rich proteins may treat hair loss and accelerate hair growth by treating amino acid deficiencies. By giving the scalp the “food” it needs to synthesize new, healthy hair, it allows the process to occur to maximum efficiency and optimal production. In fact, changes in dietary protein have been found to create significant changes in the levels of protein within the hair within six to twelve months (American Journal of Physical Anthropology, 1999).
Another theory is that AminoMar™ and other marine proteins work because they are an rich source of silica. For years, silica supplements have been associated with increased hair growth. However, there are few studies to substantiate this (Hair Savers for Women, 2000).
No matter how the AminoMar™ in Viviscal works, the fact remains: There is something about marine protein that works! A similar marine protein to the one in Viviscal has been shown to reverse hair loss as long ago as 1992 (Journal of International Medical Research, 1992). In addition, a similar product from Scandanavia, Nourkin, also features marine protein and has been found in clinical studies to have solid efficacy in treating hair loss (The Hair Loss Cure: A Self Help Guide, 2009). So the science clearly says marine proteins like AminoMar™ may not be too good to be true, after all!
Biotin gets me less excited, unless you eat a diet rich in processed foods
Biotin is a water-soluble B vitamin that is necessary for intermediate processes of metabolism (Seminars in Dermatology, 1991). The results of biotin supplementation are moderate. At least one study shows that biotin results in hair growth and increased hair strength and combability (American Academy of Dermatology, 1995), though the subject in that study had abnormalities of the hair to begin with.
Whether or not biotin supplementation will aid your hair depends on whether or not you are biotin-deficient. According to Dr. Audrey Kunin, a Kansas City-based dermatologist and founder of DERMADoctor.com, biotin deficiencies lead to hair loss and fragility. Biotin is naturally found in foods like the following:
- Dairy products
- Meat
- Fish
- Spinach
- Brewer’s yeast
- Corn
- Barley
- Soybeans
- Walnuts
- Peanuts
- Molasses
- Cauliflower
- Egg yolks
- Fortified cereals
- Particularly high amounts of biotin are found in cheese, yogurt, chicken, and liver.
It’s difficult to determine if you are biotin-deficient. There is not a good laboratory test to determine a deficiency. Therefore, if you are not consuming many of the foods above, you may want to consider a supplement like Viviscal.
On the other hand, even if you do eat healthfully, there is very little risk with taking a biotin supplement. Like the other B vitamins, biotin is water-soluble, meaning what your body cannot use will be excreted out from your system in a matter of hours. The upper daily limit of biotin is quite high, and unless you eat liver for breakfast, lunch, and dinner and double your daily dose of Viviscal, you should be fine.
Zinc oxide really doesn’t do much of anything
Of all the ingredients in Viviscal, I’m the least excited about the zinc oxide.
On the one hand, it has been theorized that zinc may be necessary for hair growth. Mice with zinc oxide deficiencies have been shown to have impaired hair growth (Neurobiology of Aging, 1999). It has also been suggested that people who are losing their hair post-surgery can reverse it with zinc sulfate 200 mg per day (Obesity Surgery, 1996).
On the other hand, the evidence is inconclusive when healthy individuals take zinc supplements. In one review in Clinical and Experimental Dermatology, it was concluded that zinc deficiencies don’t cause hair loss: “There is no evidence to support the popular view that low serum zinc concentrations cause hair loss.”
There is no evidence to support that excess zinc causes hair loss or that its supplementation will increase hair growth or health, so I’m not enthusiastic about the zinc in Viviscal.
Bottom Line
So does Viviscal work? Of all the hair growth supplements out there, I would give this one very high marks. This is due to its inclusion of AminoMar™, a marine protein that has impressive research backing substantiating its effect on hair growth rates and hair health. To a lesser extent, I like that Viviscal contains biotin. But I really don’t care that Viviscal contains zinc, horsetail extract, or vitamin C — none of these are the “magic potion” that delivers results with Viviscal, in my opinion.
One word of caution: Hair grows extremely slowly, at an average of just six inches per year (LifeScience). This means that an increase of 50% in hair growth is a mere extra quarter inch per month. It could be working fabulously after four weeks, but you might miss it!
My recommendation is to use a supplement like Viviscal for at least three to four months daily to determine whether or not it works for you. During that time, you should be able to tell if your hair is grown the usual three inches, or an impressive four to four-and-a-half inches. Long story short, it simply takes time to see the difference with a hair growth supplement!