Viviscal

Are you familiar with Viviscal tablets & are they effective???

Ah yes, another fancy name of yet another “miracle” solution for hair loss. In looking up this product on the internet, I found the following comment on the site of a Viviscal reseller: “Although he was thrilled that I was growing out my hair, my boyfriend was skeptical about this ‘miracle pill’ I was taking, and was worried that I was taking something with a ‘secret’ ingredient. To calm his concerns, I showed him the box and he read over the ingredients, then agreed that the cartilaginous seafood extract, acerola extract, silica compounds, microcrystalline cellulose, magnesium stearate, and natural black currant flavor were more than likely safe. When I convinced him I wasn’t experiencing any negative side effects, he seemed much more at ease with Viviscal and began to realize that I would have longer hair sooner than he and I had previously estimated.”

Ok, where is the science in this? Is this the best testimonial that the reseller could come up with — “my boyfriend thinks it’s safe“??

Some months ago, NBC News’ Dateline show had a story on the results of five balding treatments. One of these treatments was Viviscal. Dateline had a physician evaluate each of the five candidates prior to beginning their treatments, and then again in six months. The person taking Viviscal was the one with no growth. So while this may not have been a perfect double blind scientific testing process, the Dateline show made a reasonable effort to compare the five methods of hair treatment. While Viviscal may not have harmful ingredients, why spend the money (about $600 per year) on an unproven food supplement?

On a side note, as I looked over their site, what initially caught my attention was that the male model shown in their site design is bald. That may have nothing to do with anything, other than the tastes and aesthetics of the web designer, but I thought it was a little strange to promote a hair product and showcasing someone with shaved head. The company seems to reflect more of an entire hair product line, rather than a treatment for hair loss. So when you ask if it is effective, I can only say that it may be effective as a good shampoo (I do not have any first hand knowledge) and the other products in the family line may be ones of personal choice. With the included ingredients (Water, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Lauryl Glucoside, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Pisces, Panthenol, Betaine, Lauryldimonium Hydgroxypropyl, Hydrolyzed Wheat, Protein, Sodium Chloride, Citric Acid, Propylene Glycol, Disodium Edta, Diazolidinyl Urea, Methylparaben, and Propylparaben), I do not believe that these components individually or in combination should accelerate hair growth or prevent hair loss.