Hair Loss Shampoo (Caffeine & DMG): Does it Work?

If you're losing your hair, you may have already tried everything short of gluing it back on. Now Alpecin has launched a new hair loss shampoo with caffeine and a new ingredient called DMG (dimethylglycine) - and the company behind it has published a clinical study to prove it works. In this video I'll cut through the marketing and breakdown the study in plain terms so you don't have to, and tell you straight whether this is worth your money. What we cover: What is DMG?: Never heard of it - don't worry, neither had I until I saw the adverts and got curious. The clinical trial: The real study behind the product. 154 men, 24 weeks, lots of hair tugging and close up photos of the scalp. We breakdown what it actually found (and didn’t). The small print: A study of 154 blokes with only 77 using the actual shampoo - is that enough proof it works? Who actually paid for the study: Spoiler - the company that actually sells you the shampoo funded the research. A case of marking your own homework? Dave’s verdict: Worth the money, or overhyped marketing? About the host - I’m Dave, a licensed Pharmacist in Great Britain with over 25 years of clinical experience. 00:00 Don’t sun your anus please (what we’re covering) 00:47 What is DMG 01:11 How DMG works 02:01 Clinical trial details - how many took part and how long did it run for 03:22 The trial results and what the heck are hair pull and phototrichogram evaluation tests? 04:36 Some important questions we need to ask - who funded the study, why did so few men take part in the phototrichogram evaluation tests and what happens after 24 weeks? 06:24 Have we effectively turned “hair loss” shampoos into a subscription model for your scalp? 06:35 What more evidence I’d like to see 07:22 The advertising standards authority ruling against Alpecin’s Caffeine Shampoo back in 2018 08:32 Dave’s final verdict Business Enquiries: partnershipsadoseofdave@gmail.com CREDITS, RESOURCES AND SCIENTIFIC REFERENCES: Study figures, diagrams, images, and research data featured in this video are sourced from Celleno L, et al. "A Novel Approach Against Male Pattern Hair Loss With Topical Dimethylglycine Sodium Salt (DMG‐Na) and Caffeine: Efficacy of a 24‐Week, Double‐Blind, Randomized, Placebo‐Controlled Trial." J Cosmet Dermatol.2025;24(8):e70390. Full article accessible at https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles.... Original content and adapted figures are used under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/.... Journal Cover Image: Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, Vol. 24, Issue 1 (2025). Licensed under Creative Commons CC BY 4.0 (Wiley / The Authors) Previous ASA ruling: https://www.asa.org.uk/rulings/dr-kur... "Ant and Dec" photo by Sean Reynolds (cropped), licensed under CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons DISCLAIMER A Dose of Dave is strictly for entertainment, general medical education, and public information purposes only. Interacting with this channel does not establish a pharmacist-patient relationship between you and Dave. Nothing here constitutes personal medical advice, clinical diagnosis, or treatment recommendations. Always consult your own qualified healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or altering any medication or treatment.© A Dose of Dave. All rights reserved. Permission is denied to clip, isolate, or redistribute this content. Dave accepts no liability for unauthorised edits. #CaffeineShampoo #DMG #HairLoss