Minoxidil and Retin-A have an additive effect on stimulating hair growth

Posted on January 29th, 2007 in Hair Loss Studies by admin | 835 Views |

[Study Summary - This study showed the effects of applying both Minoxidil, also known as Rogaine, with Retinol, also known as Retin-A on stimulating hair growth. The Korean researchers applied both drugs to hair follicles growing in a lab petri dish and observed their effects. They found that the combination of the two worked better than each on their own. The study confirms this previously known phenomena and demonstrates how this effect is achieved. Many people use products that combine minoxidil with Retin-A as a treatment for hair loss.]

study

The additive effects of minoxidil and retinol on human hair growth invitro.

Biol Pharm Bull. 2007 Jan 30
Yoo HG, Chang IY, Pyo HK, Kang YJ, Lee SH, Kwon OS, Cho KH, Eun HC, Kim KH.
Department of Dermatology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Korea.

Minoxidil enhances hair growth by prolonging the anagen phase and induces new hair growth in androgenetic alopecia (AGA), whereas retinol significantly improves scalp skin condition and promotes hair growth. We investigated the combined effects of minoxidil and retinol on human hair growth in vitro and on cultured human dermal papilla cells (DPCs) and epidermal keratinocytes (HaCaT). The combination of minoxidil and retinol additively promoted hair growth in hair follicle organ cultures.

In addition, minoxidil plus retinol more effectively elevated phosphorylated Erk, phosphorylated Akt levels, and the Bcl-2/Bax ratio than minoxidil alone in DPCs and HaCaT. We found that the significant hair shaft elongation demonstrated after minoxidil plus retinol treatment would depend on the dual kinetics associated with the activations of Erk- and Akt-dependent pathways and the prevention of apoptosis by increasing the Bcl-2/Bax ratio.

Source: PMID 17202653

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