About Author
Vinay Kumar Singh.
Head-Formulation
Kumar Organic Products Research Centre Pvt. Ltd.,
Bengaluru
Email : formulation_krc@kopresearchcentre.net
Hair becomes less dense over time. Individual strands get thinner and break more easily. Sunlight, climate, and pollution also take a toll. Hairstyling techniques such as blow drying, coloring, over using gels can further damage hair. But if the damage hasn’t progressed too far, there are hair care products that may restore glossy, full-bodied hair. Many of these products may work for at least a short time and provide subtle benefits.
Several factors can negatively impact our hair growth, including our diet, lifestyle, and the hair care products we use.
People typically lose 50 to 100 hairs a day. This usually isn't noticeable because new hair is growing in at the same time. Hair loss occurs when new hair doesn't replace the hair that has fallen out.
Hair loss is typically related to one or more of the following factors :
• Family history (heredity). The most common cause of hair loss is a hereditary condition that happens with aging. This condition is called androgenic alopecia, male-pattern baldness and female-pattern baldness. It usually occurs gradually and in predictable patterns — a receding hairline and bald spots in men and thinning hair along the crown of the scalp in women.
• Hormonal changes and medical conditions. A variety of conditions can cause permanent or temporary hair loss, including hormonal changes due to pregnancy, childbirth, menopause and thyroid problems. Medical conditions include alopecia areata, which is immune system related and causes patchy hair loss, scalp infections such as ringworm, and a hair-pulling disorder called trichotillomania.
• Medications and supplements. Hair loss can be a side effect of certain drugs, such as those used for cancer, arthritis, depression, heart problems, gout and high blood pressure.
• Radiation therapy to the head. The hair may not grow back the same as it was before.
• A very stressful event. Many people experience a general thinning of hair several months after a physical or emotional shock. This type of hair loss is temporary.
• Hairstyles and treatments. Excessive hairstyling or hairstyles that pull your hair tight, such as pigtails or cornrows, can cause a type of hair loss called traction alopecia. Hot-oil hair treatments and permanents also can cause hair to fall out. If scarring occurs, hair loss could be permanent.
Most men will experience at least some degree of genetic hair loss by the time they are in their 50s. About one-third of women experience hair loss (alopecia) at some time in their lives; among postmenopausal women, as many as two-thirds suffer hair thinning or bald spots. Hair loss in women often has a greater impact than hair loss does on men , because it's less socially acceptable for them. Alopecia can severely affect a woman's emotional well-being and quality
There are two types of hair loss–Alopecia Areata and Androgenetic Alopecia, or common male pattern baldness (MPB). MPB is responsible for over 95% of hair loss in men. By age 35, two-thirds of American men will experience noticeable hair loss. Other factors believed to contribute to hair loss include nutritional factors, stress and seborrhoea. Iron deficiency is a leading cause non-Androgenic related hair loss.
Our hair grows from the follicle or root located under the skin. The blood vessels at the base of the follicle feed the hair and provide it with nourishment. The hair growth process begins with hair growth cycle and ends with hair falling out.
The hair growth process occurs in a cycle, with hair follicles going through four different stages as they grow, regress, rest and shed over the course of several years.The four stages of the hair growth process are anagen, catagen, telogen, and exogen. Our hair could be at any of these stages of the growth cycle. The anagen phase (hair growth phase) becomes shorter with time, causing hair to grow thinner and weaker at the end of each cycle.
Many women wish their hair would grow longer and faster. Stimulating new hair growth is possible whether we suffer from hair loss due to a genetic condition, stress or chemical treatments or we just want to grow our hair healthier and longer.
The average person has 100,000-150,000 scalp hairs and about 5 million hair follicles. Hair grows on its own individual cycle and has the highest rate of cell division in the human body (50 minutes for mitosis). An average hair grows approximately 1 cm per month and has a diameter of 58 to 100 microns. Healthy hair growth occurs when approximately 90% of hairs are in the Anagen or growth phase, which can last three to five years.
The Four Stages of Hair Growth
The hair growth process (or hair growth cycle) has four different stages:
The Anagen (Growing) Phase
During the anagen phase, our hair is actively and continuously growing. This phase of the hair growth process usually lasts for three to five years, although some people have anagen phases of up to seven years.
Because our hair is continuously growing during the anagen phase, the length of this phase of the hair growth cycle determines the maximum length of your hair. For most people, this is 18 to 30 inches.
The Catagen (Regression/Transition) Phase
After each hair follicle completes its anagen phase, it enters the catagen, or regression phase. A hair follicle in the catagen phase will shrink slightly in size and detach from our skin, starting its process of falling out.
Although hair in this phase "detaches" from our skin, it usually doesn’t fall out until much later, usually when the new hair “pushes” it out from your scalp.
The Telogen (Resting) Phase
After a hair follicle enters the catagen phase and detaches from your scalp, it enters a resting period known as the telogen phase. This phase usually lasts for three to five months before a hair is "pushed" out by the growth of new hair.
Most people have about 10 to 20% of their hair in the telogen phase at any time. Sometimes, when a person is stressed or physically unwell, other health conditions can cause more hair follicles than normal to enter the telogen phase, resulting in temporary hair shedding.
The Exogen (Shedding) Phase
Once the new hair has grown, the old hair enters the exogen phase. During this phase, the old hair completely detaches from the scalp and falls out, usually while we’re using a comb, brush or washing our hair in the shower.
It’s normal for about 50 to 150 hairs to go into this phase and fall out on a daily basis, meaning there’s no need to panic if we notice a few hairs on our comb or brush after styling our hair.
As the new hair grows, it replaces the old hair and completes the hair growth cycle, giving us replacement hairs for all of the hairs lost during the catagen, telogen and exogen phases of the growth process.
Hair growth process can be interrupted and affected by external factors like stress, malnutrition, and illness. For example, a lack of protein can cause hair to enter the telogen phase prematurely, resulting in excessive thinning and hair loss. Animal studies also show that stress can inhibit hair growth by causing hair to enter into the catagen phase prematurely.
Male pattern baldness affects the hair growth process by making the effects of the catagen, or regressive, phase more severe. DHT, the androgenic hormone that causes male pattern baldness, stimulates TGF-β1, TGF-β2, DKK1 and Interleukin 6, all of which have an effect on the miniaturization of hair follicles. Over time, this results in hair follicles shrinking and eventually failing to produce hair growth.
How to Regrow Hair
There are several ways to regrow hair. The most effective way to regrow our hair depends on how we lost it, whether the root cause is our diet, stress levels or androgens.
If our hair loss is caused by stress, the best way to reverse the effects and regrow our hair is to remove the source of stress from our life. If our hair loss is caused by a nutritional deficiency, the best way to regrow our hair is to make changes to our diet and supplementation regimen
If our hair loss is the result of male pattern baldness, the best way to start regrowing some of the hair that is lost is by blocking dihydrotestosterone (or DHT), which is the root cause of male pattern baldness.
It’s important to know that we can only regrow from areas where the hair follicles are still active, healthy and capable of producing new hairs. If we have lost hair in an area for several years, there isn’t much chance of it regrowing even with a full dose of finasteride and daily minoxidil usage.
Low-Level Laser Therapy (or LLLT) uses non-invasive pain-free light technology to stimulate energy production within the cell and scientifically induce regrowth of thicker, fuller hair.
Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP), is a blood component that carries a concentration of platelets five times higher than ordinary plasma and is used as a growth stimulant in PRP procedures.
Hair Growth Stimulants act as accelerators for hair follicles by propelling their normal, natural growth pattern, extending their length, improving their width and diameter and, in some cases rehabilitating hair follicles which would otherwise remain inactive.
The cause(s) behind hair loss should be addressed prior to proceeding with any type of hair growth stimulation therapy for maximum hair regrowth.
Minoxidil (Kopdil) is a vasodilator, which has been clinically proven to stimulate hair regrowth.
Minoxidil is the only chemical known to generate a micro capillary contact with the hair follicle, and improve blood flow and micro circulation to the papilla, the base of the hair which absorbs nutrients.
By creating this microcapillary contact, minoxidil triggers the reaction of small resting hair follicles which results in slightly longer and thicker hair growth.
Overall minoxidil is the most widely used hair growth product worldwide but requires a daily use and has a limited stimulus. But when used consistently. it will produce positive results by gradually enlarging and lengthening miniaturized hair follicles.
Minoxidil and Finasteride are only FDA approved molecules for Hair growth, comes under schedule H and cannot be used for cosmetic applications. Minoxidil also affects on blood pressure, so not ideal for BP patients.
We at Kumar Organic also have two molecules namely Kopexil (Diaminopyridimine oxide) and Kopyrrol (Pyrrolidinyl diaminopyrimidine oxide) for hair growth. These are water insoluble molecule. We also have water soluble version of these to facilitate its use in water based formulations giving the same effect, which are as below.
Kopexil (INCI name diaminopyrimidine oxide) is a chemical compound similar to minoxidil. Minoxidil was originally used to treat high blood pressure; a side effect was increased body hair. Both compounds have been used for therapy of alopecia. Kopexil is not approved for use as a drug in the United States or in Europe.
Kopexil is an N-oxide, a group of substances in which the nitrogen atom of a tertiary amine is oxidized. The compound can exist in two tautomeric forms. The exact mechanism of action of kopexil is unknown. There is no proof of therapeutic effect for kopexil against alopecia.
1. Kopexil (Diaminopyrimidine Oxide) A fortifying hair growth active for hair care formulation Clinically proven to be effective Strengthens hair from root to tip Promotes hair thickness Ceases hair loss Accelerates hair growth Reinforces hair anchoring
2. KOPEXIL increases the volume of hair in the growth stage by working on the deep structure of the roots. It rejuvenates the hair roots so that healthy hair growth can persist. The perifollicular fibrosis is a condition in which collagen around the roots becomes rigid, tightens, and pushes the hair out; KOPEXIl helps in softening of the collagen. KOPEXIL is used in hair cosmetics to combat hair loss due to premature exhaustion of the hair root.
KOPYRROL (Pyrrolidinyl Diaminopyrimidine Oxide) recovers weak follicle cells by supplying the nutrition which hair needed for growth and increase the growth of hair and increases the volume of hair in the growth stage by working on the deep structure of the roots. Through the bloodstream, KOPYRROL works at the level of the hair root, which is responsible for a healthy scalp and beautiful hair. KOPYRROL is used in hair cosmetics to combat hair loss due to premature exhaustion of the hair root.
Kopyrrol results in significant increase in the hair density by 64% in comparison with Baseline.
Change in absolute hair growth activity from baseline to 5 months of treatment with Kopyrrol shows significant increase in hair growth activity by 66%.Thesre is significant increase in Anangen/Telogen ratio from baseline to 5 months with Kopyrrol
Aqua (Hair growth stimulants) Products.
Minoxidil is treated as a gold standard for hair growth but it is insoluble in water and products containing high concentrations of alcohol makes scalp dry, resulting in dandruff. Consumer wants products that must not create dandruff, itchy scalp & irritation due to alcohol present in products.
Aqua products are water soluble, without compromising in efficacy, do not require alcohol as solvent.
Aqua product has multifunctional component which is a very potent anti-oxidant to prevent ROS production. Oxidation leads to ROS (reactive oxygen species) generation, and ROS is responsible to hair fall and hair graying
1.Kopdil Aqua : : Minoxidil Oxothiazolidinecarboxylate
2.Kopexil Aqua: : Diaminopyrimidine Oxide Oxothiazolidinecarboxylate
3.Kopyrrol Aqua Pyrrolidinyl Diaminopyrimidine Oxide – Oxothiazolidinecarboxylate
Kopdil Aqua is an effective, practically easy to handle hair growth active ingredient which is particularly suitable for the manufacture of hair growth shampoos and hair care products such as hair tonics a hair growth action.
Mechanism of Action – Kopdil Aqua acts as a Vasodilator, effects on DHT hormone Production by regulating 5 α reductase Enzyme. The concentrations used can be 5.0 %, depending on the type of finished product. The concentration can be reduced or increased even further for preparations that remain on the hair or the scalp or rinse off. Because of its solubility in aqueous surfactant solutions and alcohol water mixtures Kopdil aqua is highly suitable for the manufacture of clear finished products.
Kopexil Aqua is an effective, easy to handle hair growth active ingredient which is suitable for the manufacture of products that can be used for hair growth.
Kopexil Aqua acts on by inhibiting LH* Enzyme which catalyses in the synthesis of Collagen .Enhances the mRNA synthesis in matrix cell which helps to softening of follicles &dilation of blood vessels around follicles,which accelerates hair growth .
*Lysyl hydroxylase (LH), an enzyme catalyzes the formation of hydroxylysine, which contributes to the maturation of collagen synthesis. Increased level of collagen causes hardening and shrinking to occur around hair follicles greatly retarding their growth. Over time, the hair follicles die and the scalp becomes visible.
It helps in strengthening hair anchoring and reinforces to grow strong and thicker hair, stimulates follicle to regrow hair, optimizes Hair Cycle by promoting longer anagen phase covering telogen follicles to anagen. Increases A:T ratio and nourish the Follicles by dilating blood vessels & increases nutrients and oxygen supply to the root. It works at the deep structure of the root inducing new hair.
The concentrations used can be 5.0 %, depending on the type of finished product. The concentration can be reduced or increased even further for preparations that remain on the hair or the scalp or rinse off. This can be used to formulate clear finished products.
Kopyrrol Aqua is an effective, practically easy to handle hair growth active ingredient, suitable for the manufacture of hair growth products.
Mechanism of Action –Kopyrrol Aqua is a Potassium Channel opener, promotes proliferation of dermal papillae cells, helps in Hair strengthening, hair anchoring, reinforces to grow strong & thicker Hair .
The concentrations used can be 5.0 %, depending on the type of finished product. This can also be used in Cosmetics formula for hair growth.
As this is Potassium Channel Opener, it promotes proliferation of dermal papillae cells. Helps in strengthening hair anchoring, Reinforces to grow strong and thicker hair, Stimulate follicle to regrow hair, optimizes Hair Cycle by promoting longer anagen phase covering telogen follicles to anagen. Increases A:T ratio and nourish the Follicles by dilating blood vessels & increases nutrients and oxygen supply to the root. It works at the deep structure of the root inducing new hair.
Kopexil Aqua and Kopyrrol Aqua activates the Anagen phase of hair cycle and increases the A/T ratio by 45.9% and 48% at 5th month.
The aqua molecules are having parity with Minoxidil for the treatment of mild to moderate Androgenic Alopecia in Male Patients.
Major Benefit of Aqua Products ( Kopdil aqua, Kopexil aqua & Kopyrrol aqua)
1. Activates the active phase of hair,
2. Strong antioxidant,
3. Accelerates hair growth,
4. Increases hair density,
5. Water soluble, so no dry scalp, dandruff, itchiness.
Every individual today wants hair as their crown and it has become an integral part of fashion. So to have better fur on your head, you must use above hair growth active to have its full bloom.
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