Key takeaways
- Research on natural treatments for alopecia areata is limited, and evidence supporting their effectiveness remains uncertain or mixed.
- Some people explore options such as essential oils, herbal supplements, or dietary changes, but these remedies may not work for everyone and haven’t been proven to treat the condition.
- Talk with a healthcare professional before trying natural treatments, especially if you’re already using medications or if you have other health conditions.
Alopecia areata is a condition in which your immune system attacks your hair follicles, causing hair loss. It generally affects the hair on your scalp and produces a characteristic pattern of hair loss in small, circular patches.
There is no cure for alopecia areata. Some people will experience just one episode of hair loss followed by complete hair regrowth, whereas others may experience recurring episodes and incomplete regrowth.
Treatments typically aim to promote hair growth and stop the progression of the disease. While the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved some medications to treat alopecia areata, they pose a risk of side effects and are not always effective.
If standard treatments have not been effective for you, you may want to consider alternative remedies. In this article, we discuss some possible natural remedies for alopecia areata.
There’s no single cause of alopecia areata. The condition results from inflammation that occurs when the immune system attacks hair follicles.
According to the
The risk of developing alopecia areata is higher in people who:
- have a family history of the condition
- have an autoimmune condition such as psoriasis, thyroid disease, or vitiligo
- have an allergic condition such as eczema
The authors of a 2018 research review examined a range of complementary and alternative treatments for alopecia, including topical treatments.
They concluded that topical remedies may have mild benefits, though research supporting the effectiveness of these remedies is limited. The following treatments included in the review showed promise:
- garlic gel, particularly when combined with a corticosteroid
- curcumin, particularly when combined with minoxidil
- capsaicin
- rosemary oil
- onion juice
Because corticosteroids and minoxidil have both been found effective in treating hair loss, it’s difficult to gauge the effects of treatments that are used alongside them, such as garlic gel and curcumin.
Diet can play a role in hair health. Research suggests that fatty acids, certain vitamins, and antioxidants can nourish the scalp and promote hair health, leading to denser, stronger hair. But there’s little research available on how diet may affect alopecia areata. Most of the foods studied have been used as topical preparations rather than oral supplements.
According to a 2025 review, oral supplements that may offer modest benefits for people with alopecia areata include pumpkin seed oil, Korean red ginseng, and zinc.
Olive oil, coconut oil, honey, and rice bran extract contain nutrients that may promote hair growth, but most of the research on these foods involves topical application.
To promote hair growth, the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians recommends consuming ample amounts of protein, iron, zinc, prebiotic fibers, and fermented foods.
Certain alternative therapies, such as acupuncture and cryotherapy, have shown promise in treating alopecia areata. However, as with many other therapies on this list, the research supporting their effectiveness is limited.
A 2025 review of complementary and alternative treatments summarized existing research on the use of acupuncture for alopecia areata. Acupuncture is a form of traditional Chinese medicine that is widely used to treat skin conditions.
The authors found two case reports of females who experienced hair regrowth after acupuncture treatment over 4- and 6-month periods.
Cryotherapy is a treatment that involves applying cold temperatures to your skin to cause a physiological response. In a small 2025 study involving 60 people with alopecia areata, participants who received cryotherapy experienced more hair regrowth than those who did not receive that treatment.
But most studies on cryotherapy for alopecia have been small, and the authors of a 2023 review suggest that larger studies are needed.
The question of whether natural treatments can help with hair regrowth remains a source of scientific debate.
Many studies suggest that natural treatments can have modest benefits for hair regrowth. But much of the available research is lacking in quality due to factors such as small sample sizes, short treatment durations, and lack of long-term follow-up.
In general, natural treatments for alopecia areata carry significantly fewer risks and side effects than conventional medications for this condition. Their relative safety makes them an attractive option for many people.
The exact risks vary depending on which treatment you try and whether you have any sensitivities to the ingredients.
In a 2018 review, researchers examined a range of complementary and alternative treatments for alopecia areata and summarized the adverse (negative) effects reported for each one.
While most of the therapies had no adverse effects, the researchers noted some possible side effects of certain treatments, including:
- Capsaicin cream: burning sensation
- Capsaicin ointment: eczema-like reaction
- Topical curcumin and minoxidil: itchiness
- Melatonin: itchiness, temporary reddening, sensitivity
- Onion juice: skin redness or other color changes, unpleasant smell
- Pumpkin seed oil: itchiness
- Saw palmetto: acne, stomach upset
- Vitamin D ointment: itchiness, skin redness or other color changes
- Zinc sulfate: dandruff, stomach upset
Hair loss caused by alopecia areata can look different from more common forms of hair loss, such as male pattern baldness.
You may experience symptoms such as:
- rapid hair loss
- hair loss in small, round patches on your face or head
- hair loss limited to one side of your scalp
- a burning or itching sensation at the site of hair loss
If you experience these symptoms or suspect that you have alopecia areata, consider speaking with a healthcare professional.
The National Alopecia Areata Foundation suggests scheduling an appointment with a healthcare professional who has experience treating this condition, such as a board certified dermatologist or a nurse practitioner or physician assistant with additional training in dermatology.
Alopecia areata is an autoimmune condition that causes hair loss in small, circular patches, typically on your scalp or face. If you have a severe case of alopecia areata, you may want to explore treatment options.
Certain medications may be used to treat alopecia areata, but because they can cause side effects, some people explore natural or alternative treatment options.
Research into the effectiveness of natural and alternative treatments is lacking, but many smaller studies suggest that these approaches may promote hair growth in people with alopecia areata.