ON THE BENEFITS OF HYALURONIC ACID ON SCALP AND FOLLICLES

Articoli scientifici

Sui benefici dell’acido ialuronico su cuoio capelluto e follicoli

Although it is an active ingredient that is now widely used in many medical fields, first of all it is necessary to make a small introduction to what hyaluronic acid actually is. In fact, that name is quite generic and indicates a class of molecules, and not a single molecule, with a well-defined and unambiguous molecular weight. In fact, the name “Hyaluronic acid” or “Hyaluronates” denotes polymers of glycosaminoglycans in which the monomeric unit consists of a glucuronic acid molecule bound to an acetylglucosamine molecule via a beta 1->4 glycosidic bond[1].

In aesthetic medicine and cosmetics, hyaluronic acid or its sodium salts have long been used, as it is an important and structural constituent of the skin and connective tissue and, in addition, has an important moisturizing action. However, especially in recent years, the use of this polymer has also become increasingly important in trichology, as it also has significant advantages in treating certain hair diseases and improving hair appearance.[2]

Gli utilizzi in tricologia

As Hyaluronic Acid has a large number of hydroxyl groups, it is able to coordinate and bind a large number of water molecules: this allows it to exert a moisturizing function in different ways depending on molecular weight. Low molecular weight polymers of hyaluronic acid are able to penetrate the skin and hair cuticle, interacting directly with keratin and promoting its conformational changes from alpha helix to beta leaflet, and then exert their moisturizing action by slowly releasing water molecules; higher molecular weight polymer chains, on the other hand, form a viscous film on the skin and hair that reduces water evaporation, moisturizing indirectly.[2,3]

However, some recent studies link topical application and injections of hyaluronic acid with a stimulation of hair growth, in vitro and in vivo. Indeed, it appears indeed that hyaluronic acid is able to exert an important action at the level of the dermal papilla, acting as an anti-inflammatory and inhibiting the synthesis of cytokines such as IL-8. At the same time, it also promotes the anagen phase.[4,5][6]

Specifically, hyaluronic acid would appear to have strong anti-inflammatory and radical scavenger activity, as well as promoting cell migration in vivo in humans and stimulating mesenchymal cells to produce extracellular vesicles (in animal tests). Such extracellular vesicles would stimulate cell division and follicular mitotic activity and also exert additional anti-inflammatory activity, thereby promoting anagen and reducing the deleterious effects at the follicular level of testosterone and dihydrotestosterone.[7]

RestaX Shampoo Maschera Repair

By virtue of its well-known action as a moisturizer and filmogen and its properties as a radical scavenger and anti-inflammatory, Wikenfarma research has included hyaluronic acid in RestaX Shampoo Repair, including it in formulations with different molecular weights, so as to maximize both its component capable of penetrating the epidermal stratum corneum and exerting such important actions in support of follicular metabolism, and its high molecular weight component, included for the purpose of protecting the skin and hair from heat by forming a protective film over them.

Bibliografia

1 Saari H, Konttinen YT, Friman C, Sorsa T. Differential effects of reactive oxygen species on native synovial fluid and purified human umbilical cord hyaluronate. Inflammation. 1993 Aug;17(4):403–15. 2 Juncan AM, Moisă DG, Santini A, Morgovan C, Rus L-L, Vonica-Țincu AL, et al. Advantages of Hyaluronic Acid and Its Combination with Other Bioactive Ingredients in Cosmeceuticals. Molecules. 2021 Jul;26(15):4429. 3 Essendoubi M, Meunier M, Scandolera A, Gobinet C, Manfait M, Lambert C, et al. Conformation changes in human hair keratin observed using confocal Raman spectroscopy after active ingredient application. Int J Cosmet Sci. 2019 Jun;41(3):203–12. 4 Siquier-Dameto G, Boisnic S, Verdú E. Revitalizing Effect on the Scalp After Injection with a Mechanically Stabilized Hyaluronic Acid Complex in Subjects with Androgenetic Alopecia. J Clin Med. 2024 Nov;13(22):6878. 5 Zerbinati N, Sommatis S, Maccario C, Capillo MC, Di Francesco S, Rauso R, et al. In Vitro Hair Growth Promoting Effect of a Noncrosslinked Hyaluronic Acid in Human Dermal Papilla Cells. Biomed Res Int. 2021 Jan;2021(1). DOI: 10.1155/2021/5598110 6 Kalabusheva E, Terskikh V, Vorotelyak E. Hair Germ Model In Vitro via Human Postnatal Keratinocyte-Dermal Papilla Interactions: Impact of Hyaluronic Acid. Stem Cells Int. 2017;2017:1–14. 7 Oh HG, Jung M, Jeong S-Y, Kim J, Han S, Kim H, et al. Improvement of androgenic alopecia by extracellular vesicles secreted from hyaluronic acid-stimulated induced mesenchymal stem cells. Stem Cell Res Ther. 2024 Sep;15(1):287.