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Capsaicin for Hair Loss

Capsaicin is the active component of chili peppers, which are plants belonging to the genus Capsicum.

Capsaicin is a chemical compound that increases the insulin-like growth factor, known as IGF.

Capsaicin and hair loss

It is found in cayenne peppers and plays a vital role in hair growth.

Cayenne has been used both as a food and for its medicinal properties for a very long time

Cayenne has become an extremely popular treatment for helping hair growth and there are a few clinical studies that show it has some promise for hair growth.

Capsaicin is actually an irritant to humans, producing a burning sensation in any tissue it touches.

Capsaicin works by depleting or interfering with substance P, a chemical involved in transmitting pain impulses to the brain.

Effect of Coapplication of Capsaicin and Minoxidil on the Murine Hair Growth

Won-Soo Lee, Hyung Jin Ahn, Young Hee Kim Department of Dermatology. Yonsei University Wonju College of Medicine, Wonju. Korea

Capsaicin induces the release of substance P(SP) which is believed to play an important role in murine hair growth and cycle.

Minoxidil, the only approved topical hair drug having direct hair growth effect, has therapeutic limitation because it stimulates mainly vellus hair regrowth, not thick coarse terminal hairs.

So, we hypothesize that combined use of capsaicin and minoxidil may exert positive effects in terms of hair growth than minoxidil alone. We evaluated the effects of coapplication of capsaicin and minoxidil on the hair growth and cycle, compared with application of capsaicin or minoxidil alone.

We induced the anagen phase of the hair of back skin of ICR mice by depilation. We devied the mice into 4 groups, i.e., control group, capsaicin group, minoxidil group, and coapplied group.

And then, we examined the hair growth macroscopically, and the percentage of the area of hair regrowth by image analysis using phototrichogram at the 0, the 5th, 10th, 15th, 20th, 25th, and 30th day.

Also we examined the morphologic changes of hair follicles and subcutis, and the number of mast cells by microscopy, and[methyl-3H] thymidine uptake by scintillation counter.

In this study, we observed that capsaicin can not only induce the anagen phase quickly, but also sustain constant effect on the linear hair growth. Minoxidil also induced the anagen phase fast, and prolong the anagen phase of the hair cycle.

Therefore, it is concluded that the coapplication of capsaicin and minoxidil can grow hair quickly and steadily.

Capsaicin and Isoflavone

Another study, which appeared in the October 2007 issue of "Growth hormone & IGF research," looked at the effects of giving oral doses of capsaicin and isoflavone for a period of five months to a group suffering from alopecia, the medical name for hair loss.

At the end of the five-month period, the results showed that 64.5 percent of those receiving capsaicin and isoflavone showed an improvement in hair growth compared to 11.8 percent of those receiving a placebo. The researchers concluded that the combination of capsaicin and isoflavone might increase Insulin-like growth factor-1 in hair follicles, which would promote hair growth.

These observations strongly suggested that combined administration of capsaicin and isoflavone might increase IGF-I production in hair follicles in the skin, thereby promoting hair growth. Such effects of capsaicin and isoflavone might be mediated by sensory neuron activation in the skin.

Capsaicin accelerates hair growth

Natural therapies that can effectively enhance hair growth are few and far between. However, researchers from Nagoya City University in Japan recently identified a link between insulin-like growth factor-1, capsaicin and hair growth.21

IGF-1 stimulates hair growth, so it may be useful for those with male-pattern alopecia (hair loss). Phytoestrogens, in the form of isoflavones, and capsaicin can enhance IGF-1 levels.21 The study examined supplementation with capsaicin (6 mg per day) and isoflavones (75 mg per day) during a five-month period in 31 patients with alopecia.21 In an adjunct study on mice, capsaicin and isoflavones were given as separate treatments, and dermal IGF-1 was assessed.21, 22

Results demonstrated that in people with alopecia, hair regrowth, which was assessed visually using before-and-after photographs, was significantly higher in those taking both capsaicin and isoflavone (64.5 percent) compared with a placebo (11.8 percent).21 This beneficial effect was directly linked to the elevations in participants’ dermal IGF-1 levels following supplementation.

In the mice study, capsaicin significantly elevated IGF-1 when given alone.21 Further human studies on capsaicin taken alone as an adjunct therapy for hair regrowth would be of great interest.

Expression Cloning and Charcterization of the Capsaicin Receptor

Capsaicin is the principle pungent ingredient found in hot chili peppers. Exposure to capsaicin initially leads to the sensation of pain but upon repeated application, it leads to the desensitization of painful stimuli.

This paradoxical effect underlies the use of capsaicin containing compounds as tipical analgesics. Because capsaicin selectively activates nociceptors, the "capsaicin receptor" has been suggested to play a role in the transduction and maintenance of pain.

We have recently characterized a cDNA clone encoding a "capsaicin receptor" (Nature 389: 816-824, 1997). The capsaicin receptor (vaniloid receptor type 1) VR1 recapitulates many of the properties described for capsaicin receptors in pain sensing neurons.

In addition, we demonstrated that VR1 can transduce noxious thermal stimuli into an inward current response supporting the hypothesis that it may function as a transducer of painful thermal stimuli in vivo.

Mark A Schumacher Ph.D, M.D.
Assistant Professor
Department of Anesthesia and Perioperative Care
University of California, San Francisco

Latest Research on Capsaicin

A proportion of sensory C-fibres is characterized by sensitivity to the pungent agent in hot peppers, capsaicin. Upon stimulation by capsaicin, co-stored peptides including calcitonin gene-related peptides (CGRP), are released from the peripheral terminals of these fibres. 

In addition to capsaicin other noxious/painful stimuli and conditions such as low pH, ischaemia, nicotine and bradykinin can cause release of CGRP from capsaicin - sensitive afferent nerves. CGRP - immuno-reactive nerve fibres occur throughout the cardiovascular system, including the heart where the highest amounts of CGRP have been detected along the coronary arteries and in the atria. 

In various species and experimental models, CGRP has proven to be the most potent vasodilator yet discovered.

Expression Cloning and Characterization of the Capsaicin Receptor

Capsaicin is the principle pungent ingredient found in hot chili peppers. Exposure to capsaicin initially leads to the sensation of pain but upon repeated application, it leads to the desensitization of painful stimuli.

This paradoxical effect underlies the use of capsaicin containing compounds as tipical analgesics. Because capsaicin selectively activates nociceptors, the "capsaicin receptor" has been suggested to play a role in the transduction and maintenance of pain. We have recently characterized a cDNA clone encoding a "capsaicin receptor" (Nature 389: 816-824, 1997).

The capsaicin receptor (vaniloid receptor type 1) VR1 recapitulates many of the properties described for capsaicin receptors in pain sensing neurons. In addition, we demonstrated that VR1 can transduce noxious thermal stimuli into an inward current response supporting the hypothesis that it may function as a transducer of painful thermal stimuli in vivo.

Mark A Schumacher Ph.D, M.D.
Assistant Professor
Department of Anesthesia and Perioperative Care
University of California, San Francisco

Capsaicin, the active ingredient in red peppers, has been shown to have efficacy in the relief of pain associated with arthritis. Structurally analogous to prostaglandins, capsaicin could be a lead-compound for drug discovery products with a similar mode of action.

The Mcg human light chain dimer has been shown to have affinity for other anti-inflammatory compounds as well as prostagladin H2. Ongoing research with this well-characterized protein in providing structural information to a number of protein-ligand complexes.

From A Capsaicin-Immune Protein Complex: Structure and Binding Studies.
B.L. Hanson, C. Dewitt, A.B. Edmundson
University of Tennessee - Oak Ridge Graduate School of Bio-Medical Sciences and Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation.

  • Introduction Nature usually has a solution for most health ailments and the problem with hair loss in no exception.

  • Saw Palmetto Natural Propecia

  • Nettles Applying an extract of Nettles to the scalp was said to stimulate hair growth, and chronic rheumatism was treated by placing nettle leaves directly on to the afflicted area.

  • Capsaicin Capsaicin induces the release of substance which is believed to play an important role in murine hair growth and cycle. 

  • Soy Extract An American Herb company was recently issued a patent for the use of soy extract for the treatment and prevention of hair loss.

  • Cayenne Pepper Excellent results have been seen with alopecia, male pattern baldness and excellent results also in women that have lost their hair.

  • Proanthocyanidin Natures Minoxidil

  • Pygeum Bark Pygeum africanum a herb derived from the bark of the African evergreen,which inhibits the enzyme 5-alpha-reductase, is widely used in Europe to prevent and treat prostate problems and to prevent and treat male pattern baldness.

  • Sapote In Santo Domingo, the seed kernel oil is used as a skin ointment and as a hair dressing believed to stop falling hair.

  • Aromatherapy Evidently, one or more of the essential oils is able to promote hair regrowth.