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May 17

Cracking the Alopecia Code: Fermented Solutions for Healthy Hair?


Alopecia & Microbiome

Alopecia (hair loss) can be caused by factors such as reduced physiological function, scalp tension-induced blood flow disorders, genetic predisposition and poor scalp nutrition. While microbiome-focused research into alopecia is limited, biomolecules of fermented fruits and fermenting microbes show promise as a potential solution.


What We Know:


  • Studies investigating the scalp microbiome determined that Cutibacterium spp. and Staphylococcus spp. make up approximately 90% of a healthy scalp microbiome, with the remaining 10% consisting of Corynebacterium spp., Streptococcus spp., Acinetobacter spp. and Prevotella spp (Jo et al., 2022).


  • The scalp microbiome may impact scalp health and alopecia. Research indicates no variance in species diversity or abundance between alopecia-affected and healthy scalps. However, a study found a >10% difference in Proteobacteria and Actinobacteria distributions. Healthy scalps showed higher Proteobacteria abundance, while alopecia-affected scalps had higher Actinobacteria levels (Jo et al., 2022).


  • Fermented aloe vera and kimchi were successfully used to treat burn wounds and improve the skin microbiota pattern, maintaining probiotic (saprophytic) bacteria, including Lactobacillus, and reducing pathogenic bacteria (such as Prevotella and Cutibacterium acnes) (Yoon et al., 2022; Park et al., 2020).


Industry Impact and Potential:


  • Hair care products containing fermented papaya and mangosteen improved hair shaft conditions and reduced hair loss compared to control groups, showing potential for alopecia (Mayer et al., 2023).


  • These experimental products improved the scalp microbiota, correcting the alopecia-associated altered microbiota pattern by decreasing pathogen content whilst maintaining probiotic (saprophyte) levels (Mayer et al., 2023).


  • Fermented papaya's probiotic activity may involve selectively inhibiting catalase in microbial pathogens, which they rely on for enzymatic antioxidant defence against the host's immune response (Mayer et al., 2023).


  • Further studies are needed to explore the preclinical and clinical effects of using food-grade fermented products in cosmetics, aiming to better understand their mechanisms and potential benefits for hair health. Integrating phytochemical and biological experiments could help identify specific plant- and microbe-derived substances with hair loss prevention and hair quality enhancement properties (Mayer et al., 2023).


Our Solution:


With a vast database of over 20,000 microbiome samples and 4,000 ingredients, coupled with a global network of over 10,000 testing participants, Sequential offers comprehensive services to evaluate product impacts and formulations. Our customisable microbiome studies provide real-life context testing, while formulation support ensures products maintain biome integrity. Therefore, we are your ideal candidate to utilise our solutions for your product development and efficacy.


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