Essential Guide azelaic acid

Applications / Hair-growth & regrowth

Spironolactone Spironolactone is a potassium-sparing diuretic that prevents from absorbing too much salt and keeps the potassium levels from getting too low. It is also used for the treatment of acne, hirsutism and androgenic alopecia. Spironolactone is for females what finasteride for males is.

The efficacy of spironolactone is rather limited indeed, and hair regrowth is merely a side effect of the diuretic activity. The side effects may be quite sincere indeed. The product shall by no means be part of personal care & cosmetic products and medical devices. Botanical products There are not to many cosmetically allowed products that inhibit 5- α -reductase; saw palmetto (INCI: Sabal Serrulata/Serenoa Re- pens) is an example. The applicable part of saw palmetto is the ripe fruit. The lipid fraction of the volatile oil and fatty oils contains constituents active in treating benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), for which saw palmetto is recommended. Saw palmetto has a proven positive track record for hair (re)growth preparations because of its potential to inhibit 5- α -reductase. Saw palmetto also hides a significant content of phytosterols (ß-sitosterol, stigmasterol, lupeol, lupenone & cycloartenol). Some other botanical products are also claimed to inhibit 5- α -reductase, but there is insufficient proof of their activity. Examples are Ganoderma lucidum (reishi mushroom), that lives on the oil palm (Elaeis guineensis); ganoderic acid & ganoderol B are believed to be the active species.

Phone : +31 475 20 60 70 • service@azeco-cosmeceuticals.com • www.azeco-cosmeceuticals.com Mussenberg 1 • 6049 GZ Roermond • The Netherlands

29