Hair Growth Products

Hair growth products first appeared in Japan in the 1950s, but not until 1979 was the first U.S. patent issued for a treatment for male baldness. In the 1980s, the market for these products developed extensively, and demand in the United States for these types of products continues to rise among both men and women. 

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No matter what the future of Rx-to-OTC switch will be, one thing for sure is that future switches will be driven by science and an evidence-based medicine approach as in the past. Even though most of the OTC products are for acute use, there are already a few products such as hair growth products and smoking cessation product for chronic use. The desire of the baby boomers to maintain their vigor and the desire of healthcare providers to control cost favors preventive OTC products, which will continue to challenge the chronic use barrier. The switch of these kinds of products will be enhanced by the advance of diagnostic products (324). 

PIT emulsions have been used in hair products. They can be used for economic hair dye production process (85) and a way to stabilize hair dyes (86). Reduced hair growth products are available by hair growth reduction actives that penetrate the skin via a PIT emulsion (87). Nano wax dispersions prepared by PIT can be added to hair shampoo formulations (88). The formulations improve the combing of wet hair and accelerates drying. Wax dispersions can also be used to carry fragrance active components. 

Powder and extracts of hgustrum are used in hair-growth products aud in formulas for removing facial dark spots primarily intended for internal use for its traditionally alleged ability to prevent premature graying and its beautifying properties (per Li Shi-Zhen s Ben Cao Gang Mu, 1590). 

The use of hair as a material in which to measure nicotine and cotinine has been proposed as a way to assess long-term exposure to nicotine from tobacco products. Nicotine and cotinine are incorporated into hair as it grows over time. The average rate of hair growth is 1 cm per month. Thus, measurements of levels of nicotine may provide a way of assessing exposure of a person to nicotine over several months (Al-Delaimy et al. 2002 Florescu et al. 2007). 

Mimosine is a natural product found in large quantities in the seeds and foliage of some legume plants. It has been shown to cause inhibition of hair growth as well as hair loss in mice. 

Interestingly, the sulfation of minoxidil produces a compound that is more active in stimulating hair growth than is the unmodified compound. Thus, the metabolic products of a drug, though usually less active than the drug, can sometimes be more active. 

Lift sebum and flakes away Minimize oil production, add luster Slow down hair loss, promote hair growth [218-222]... 

FTocter Gamble and L Oreal have been very active in investigating compounds and formulas for promoting hair growth or slowing down hair loss [228-234], Currently, in this segment of the market leave-on products are dominant. 

Some consumers prefer to be free of visible hair in various parts of their skin. Cosmetic products are available to reduce hair growth by actives which penetrate into the skin. It has been shown that skin penetration of difhioromethylornithine, an active to reduce hair growth from PIT emulsions, is superior to emulsions with larger particle sizes [65]. A related approach for a hair removal lotion uses thioglycolic acid as the active ingredient [66]. 

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