Topical Products for Human Hair Regeneration: A Comparative Study on an Animal Model

BACKGROUND: Hair loss and hair growth is the subject of tremendous amount of research. OBJECTIVE: This study investigated the efficacy of three chemical treatments used in humans for hair loss, using a rat model of hair regrowth. The products tested were 2% minoxidil, Hairgrow (Dar-Al-Dawa Pharma), Aminexil, Dercos (Vichy Laboratoires), and Kerium, Anti-chute (La Roche-Posay). METHODS: Thirty-two adult female Wistar-Bratislava rats were assigned to 4 groups. Two rectangular areas (2x4 cm) were shaved on either sides of the mid dorsal line (left side - control; right side - test area). Group I was treated topically with 2% minoxidil, group II with Aminexil, and group III with Kerium. Each rat received 0.3 ml of substance applied topically to the shaved dorsal skin every day for 28 days. Rats in group IV served as sham controls receiving no treatment. Hair regrowth was evaluated by trichoscopy (with a dermatoscope), grown hair weight (from a surface area of 1 cm2), and histopathological examination for skin thickness, follicle count, and percentage of anagen induction (morphometric assessment). RESULTS: Treatment with 2% minoxidil significantly induced hair regrowth as assessed by trichoscopy, hair weight examination, and morphometric evaluation. Hair weight examination and morphometric assessment demonstrated the lowest hair growth effect with Aminexil among the tested products. Treatment with Kerium was found to significantly induce hair regrowth (p<0.05 as compared to the control group). CONCLUSION: Our study demonstrates that hair regrowth efficacy of products recommended for human use is not similar when tested on an animal model.

Effect of Water Extract from Salvia Miltiorrhiza on the Hair Regrowth in Testosterone-induced Alopecia in Mice / 昆明医科大学学报

Objective To study the role of water exact from salvia miltiorrhiza (SM) in promoting hair regrowth in testosterone (T)-induced alopecia in mice.Methods Pathological alopecia mice were induced by T and the mice were randomly divided into control group,model group,Zhanggvanp 101 group,SM low-dose group,SM middle-dose group,SM high-dose group (20,40,80 mg/ml,respectively).The effects of SM on hair regrowth were evaluated by measuring hair length,weight and the number of hair follicle.The concentration of serum T and estrodiol (E2),the content of skin VEGF,MDA,SOD,and GSH-Px were measured after external inunctum for 21 days.Results (1) SM significantly promoted regrowth hair length,weight and the number of hair follicle (P＜0.05) (2) SM significantly balanced the hormones by reducing levels of T and increasing E2 (P＜0.05) (3) SM significantly reduced the content of MDA by increasing the activity of SOD and GSH-Px (P＜0.05) (4) SM significantly increased the level of VEGF (P＜0.05) Conclusion In the pathological alopecia mice induced by T,SM can effectively promote the hair regrowth,with the possible mechanism of balancing hormones,being anti-oxidant and improving VEGF expression.

Effect of Seaweed Extract on Hair Growth Promotion in Experimental Study of C57BL/6 Mice

BACKGROUND: Recently, substances from seaweeds have been widely used in hair growth solutions, and have been proven to be effective. Seaweeds have been documented to possess hair growth activity; however, no report on the effect of seaweed on hair regeneration has been issued to date. In this study, we investigated which exact substance of hair tonic made by JW-bio and our institute shows effects on hair growth by studying the mechanisms of candidate substances. METHODS: The study was conducted to investigate the hair restoring effect of domestic natural substances; we categorized the candidate substances as seaweed, cereal, and herbal medicine. Five experimental groups were included in the study as follows: a saline group, a 50% ethanol group, seaweed group, a cereal group, and a herbal medicine group. RESULTS: Three extracts (seaweed, cereal, and herbal medicine) were administered to C57BL/6 mice for two weeks after depilation. Depilated areas were found to be completely covered with fully grown hair, and the hair re-growth score was highest in the seaweed group. Using a hair analysis system, hair characteristics were measured in all groups on days 10 and 14 after depilation. The width and length of hair follicles were largest in the seaweed group. Groups treated with seaweed showed significantly increased gene expression of insulin-like growth factor-1. Groups treated with all the three extracts showed decreased expression of transforming growth factor-beta1. CONCLUSION: Findings from our study suggest that seaweeds possess hair-growth effects and may be useful for the treatment of alopecia in the future.

Three Cases of Allergic Contact Dermatitis due to Hair Growth Stimulator / 대한피부과학회지

To take advantage of hypertrichosis, one of the side effcct of minoxidil, is used as a application to male pattern baldness and alopecia areata. Recently 101 Hair Regrowth Liniment which is a new hair growth stimulator from China is used in male pattern baldness, but its components, actions and side effects are exactly unknown. We experienced three cases of allergic contact dermatits one case due to minoxidil and others due to 101 Hair Regrowth Liniment which were confirmed by patch test.