ER01-2016-01

075 SPC0916_azelaicAKJW.qxp_spc feature template 24/08/2016 16:05 Page 75

azelaic acid ingredients

Putting a hold on hair loss Elzbieta Brand-Garnys and Dr Hans Brand propose azelaic acid as a potent 5- α -reductase inhibitor that is suitable for cosmetic compositions

eyebrows and eyelashes) are autoimmune disorders for which no general treatment is available. With alopecia areata hair loss is observed, resulting in smooth, round patches about the size of a coin or larger. It can (rarely) result in complete loss of scalp and body hair.This disease may affect children or adults of any age.The cause of alopecia areata is unknown. Having said that, the affected victims are generally in excellent health. In most cases, the hair regrows without intervention. Alopecia areata may also be observed in pregnant women; during pregnancy the hair grows with increased intensity (pregnant women frequently have beautiful hair). But after delivery, many hairs swiftly enter a dormant stage.Within two to three months, some women will notice large amounts of hair coming out in their brushes and combs.This can last up to half a year, but resolves completely in most cases. In a number of cases,

Hair grows everywhere on our body except on the palms of our hands and the soles of our feet. An average human adult is the proud owner of approximately 150,000 hairs on his or her head, but also loses up to 100 of them per day. Many individuals suffer from hair loss (alopecia), especially females. One of the conditions leading to thinning hair is known as hereditary hypotrichosis simplex. The responsible gene, APCDD1, has been identified and causes hair follicles to shrink [1] . Victims of genetic hairlessness also frequently face the absence of eyelashes and eyebrows.There are sincere indications that the number of people condemned to genetic baldness is limited to less than a hundred individuals worldwide; nevertheless this is scant comfort for those with an unwanted naked skull. Virtually all individuals will face sooner or later involutional alopecia (old age hair loss) and that can only be delayed by providing the hair follicles with a frequent shot of essential nutrients: B vitamins and some metal ions. A low-protein diet or severely calorie-restricted diet frequently causes temporary hair loss. Alopecia areata (spot baldness) and alopecia universalis (total body hair fall-out, including

FIGURE 1 Sulfasalazine

offer an effective treatment for alopecia areata, but superior results are obtained using azelaic acid, without the unwanted side effects of sulfasalazine and/or anthralin [2] . Male pattern hair loss (MPHL, androgenic alopecia) develops under the influence of

sulfasalazine or anthralin (1,8-dihydroxyanthron) Noni fruit, also known as the Indian mulberry, is reported to exhibit 5- α - reductase inhibition properties

September 2016 SPC 75