From a client perspective, how vital is having good hair? In line with a survey1 of girls, 29 % of girls reported feeling empowered by having good hair. Additionally, one in six girls indicated that they might be embarrassed to exit in public if there’s one thing fallacious with their hair, one in 10 stated a nasty hair day would preserve them from going out with pals, and over one in three averted being in footage due to a nasty hair day. Likewise, a survey2 with males discovered that eight in 10 males thought the look of their hair was vital and that their hair helps them really feel assured, 44 % of males felt negatively about their hair they are saying it makes them really feel insecure, unattractive, embarrassed or unhappy, and a 3rd of males stated they need their hair appeared more healthy and stronger. So, all in all, having good hair is certainly crucial to shoppers.
The Hair Complement Market
Whilst you may rightly count on that many shoppers make the most of topical hair care merchandise in an try enhance hair look, many additionally flip to dietary dietary supplements for this goal as nicely. In truth, the worldwide hair dietary supplements market was valued at $1.50 billion in 2024 and is projected to develop to $6.17 billion by 2034 with a compound annual progress fee (CAGR) of 15.2 %.3 So what dietary supplements are shoppers utilizing to advertise wholesome hair?
Does Biotin Work Alone?
Arguably, the most well-liked nutraceutical promoted for wholesome hair is the B vitamin biotin. However does it actually ship if used alone? Sadly, the quick reply is not any. Whereas a deficiency of biotin could contribute to hair loss,4 there is no such thing as a proof that biotin alone in wholesome individuals who already obtain enough biotin may have any additional benefit for hair.5 Nevertheless, there may be some analysis suggesting that when biotin is utilized in mixture with keratin, there are advantages for wholesome hair.6 So, the take residence message is if you wish to use biotin for hair, then mix it with keratin. That being the case, I’m going to debate solubilized keratin.
What Is Keratin?
Keratin is a bunch of proteins discovered on epithelial cells, which line the within and outdoors surfaces of the physique. Keratins assist kind the tissues of the hair, nails and the outer layer of the pores and skin.7 In line with analysis, keratin accounts for 70-95 % of the full mass of hair,8 and take part within the well being of the inside root sheath of hair follicles in people.9 Preclinical work utilizing ex-vivo pores and skin samples of facial pores and skin demonstrated that keratin expression is induced across the hair follicle.10 Primarily, keratin capabilities as a junctional protein to construct pores and skin construction on the dermal-epidermal junction and additional to bind hair follicles because the anchoring protein on the hair root, maintaining hair nicely anchored to the top. In-vitro research on human keratinocytes discovered that that elevated keratin expression was induced by solubilized keratin (as Keragen IV).11 Consequently, it isn’t stunning that, as a nutraceutical, solubilized keratin has worth in selling wholesome hair. Earlier than leaping into the analysis on solubilized keratin supplementation, it could be good to first perceive hair anchoring.
Hair Anchoring
Hair anchoring refers back to the means of strengthening the hair’s connection to the scalp. It could possibly additionally check with the hair follicle, which anchors every hair into the pores and skin. Hair anchoring is vital in mitigating hair loss typical of that skilled throughout combing or styling, when hair is broken by way of chemical remedies, coloring or throughout peri- or post-menopause. One of these typical hair loss is named hair shedding. One technique to measure hair shedding is by way of the hair pull take a look at. It is a easy in-office take a look at carried out by a well being care supplier, similar to a dermatologist, that determines if an individual is actively shedding hair. Now let’s look at the analysis on solubilized keratin.
Solubilized Keratin Research
A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled non-invasive study12 was performed in 65 feminine topics aged 45-60, to evaluate the impact of supplementation with 400 mg/day of solubilized keratin supplementation (as Keragen IV, AIDP) on hair and pores and skin well being. The ladies had wholesome pores and skin, however broken or harassed hair. Instrumental measures of pores and skin firmness and elasticity, hydration, and pores and skin barrier perform effectivity have been taken together with a hair pull take a look at and keratin high quality assessments over the 60 days of the research. Outcomes have been that solubilized keratin improved hair anchoring. Particularly, there was a 43.1 % discount (p≤0.01) in hair loss in girls with harassed or broken hair after 60 days. Enchancment within the hair keratin construction was additional supported after 60 days by a 17.61 % improve (p≤0.01) in birefringence (i.e., the optical property of a cloth that causes mild to separate into two rays when it passes by way of the fabric), a mirrored image of hair cortex structural integrity. There was additionally a 12.5 % discount (p≤0.05) in trans epidermal water loss (TEWL) at 30 days which can have arisen from the development of pores and skin construction and related barrier perform as a result of collagen IV expression. The influence on pores and skin well being and pores and skin construction because of the solubilized keratin supplementation after 60 days was additionally seen with a ten.1 % (p≤0.001) improve in pores and skin elasticity. In conclusion, using oral keratin supplementation (as Keragen IV) resulted in improved hair construction and discount in hair loss, in addition to in enchancment in pores and skin construction.
Conclusion
Surveys have demonstrated that wholesome hair look is vital to men and women, as mirrored within the present $1.5 billion hair complement market which is rising at a fast fee. Nevertheless, biotin, which is usually used to advertise wholesome hair, has no revealed analysis demonstrating effectiveness as a hair well being complement. Conversely, supplementation with solubilized keratin (as Keragen IV, AIDP) has been proven to have a constructive influence on hair well being, together with enhancements in hair anchoring, a discount in hair shedding, and enhancements in hair keratin construction. It additionally improved pores and skin well being, together with a discount in trans epidermal water loss and a rise in pores and skin elasticity.VR
References
1 Worldwide Girls’s Day: Survey Says Girls Really feel Empowered By Having Good Hair. Tyme Lifetyme Weblog. Mar 01, 2019. Retrieved January 23, 2025 from www.tymestyle.com/blogs/lifetyme-blog/international-womens-day-survey-says-women-feel-empowered-by-having-good-hair?srsltid=AfmBOoq3VdI7LqlWbvpvDTasGUOGbLQ58UIG8g43pRmav90BYIqw8JgZ.
2 Peake M. Males’s Hair Survey Finds 3 in 5 Males Want They Had More healthy Hair. Belgravia Centre. Retrieved January 23, 2025 from www.belgraviacentre.com/weblog/mens-hair-survey-finds-3-in-5-men-wish-they-had-healthier-hair#:~:textual content=Males’s percent20Hair percent20Survey percent20Finds percent203 percent20in percent205 percent20Men percent20Wish percent20They percent20Had percent20Healthier percent20Hair,-Posted percent20by percent20Mike&textual content=The percent20old percent20stereotype percent20that percent20hair,about percent20their percent20looks percent20as percent20anyone.
3 International Hair Dietary supplements Market Overview. Market Analysis Future. Retrieved January 23, 2025 from www.marketresearchfuture.com/reviews/hair-supplements-market-12086.
4 Zempleni J, Hassan YI, Wijeratne SS. Biotin and biotinidase deficiency. Skilled Rev Endocrinol Metab. 2008;3(6):715-724. doi:10.1586/17446651.3.6.715.
5 Soleymani T, Lo Sicco Okay, Shapiro J. The Infatuation With Biotin Supplementation: Is There Fact Behind Its Rising Recognition? A Comparative Evaluation of Medical Efficacy versus Social Recognition. J Medicine Dermatol. 2017;16(5):496-500.
6 Beer C, Wooden S, Veghte RH. A Medical Trial to Examine the Impact of Cynatine HNS on Hair and Nail Parameters. The Scientific World Journal. 2014; 2014, Article ID 641723:6 pgs.
7 Keratin. Nationwide Institutes of Well being, Nationwide Most cancers Institute. Retrieved January 23, 2025 from www.most cancers.gov/publications/dictionaries/cancer-terms/def/keratin.
8 Blanco A, Blanco G. Chapter 3 – Proteins. In Blanco A, Blanco G. Medical Biochemistry. Tutorial Press; 2017: 21-71.
9 Bragulla HH, Homberger DG. Construction and capabilities of keratin proteins in easy, stratified, keratinized and cornified epithelia. J Anat. 2009 Apr;214(4):516-59. doi: 10.1111/j.1469-7580.2009.01066.x. PMID: 19422428; PMCID: PMC2736122.
10 Roddick Lanzilotta, R Kelly, P R Sapsford, A Maintain on Hair Keratin Mix Anchors Follicles and Prevents Air pollution-induced Hair Fall, Cosmetics and Toiletries, 2018, 134, 9, 24-36.
11 Tang L, Sierra JO, Kelly R, Kirsner RS, Li J. Wool-derived keratin stimulates human keratinocyte migration and kinds IV and VII collagen expression, Experimental Dermatology. 2012; 21:5. DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0625.2012.01505.
12 Kelly R, Gu J, Lim J, Lati E, Manna V. Impact of keraGEN IV Keratin oral supplementation on hair, pores and skin, and nail attributes. HealthMED. 2024; 18(2):35-45.
Dr. Gene Bruno, DBM, MHS, Professor Emeritus of Nutraceutical Science, is a author, educator and a nutraceutical scientist with greater than 45 years of expertise educating pure product retailers and well being care professionals and formulating pure merchandise for dozens of dietary complement corporations. He has written articles on vitamin, natural drugs, nutraceuticals and integrative well being points for commerce, client magazines and peer-reviewed publications. Dr. Bruno additionally hosts “The Vitamin Professor Podcast” delivered to you by VRM Media. He will be reached at eugenejbruno@gmail.com.
