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Scalp malodour is a significant concern, and unlike other body areas associated with unpleasant odour, there are currently no specific cosmetic or hygiene products designed to address it. Emerging research is shedding light on the role of the scalp microbiome in this issue, revealing how we can manipulate it to find effective solutions.
What We Know:
Body odour carries a strong social stigma around it and its psychological impact is not fully understood. Nevertheless, this olfactory cue is hypothesised to play a role in kinship detection and mate selection within human communities (Lam et al., 2018).
Human body odour arises from bacterial decomposition of odourless sweat constituents like fatty acids and amino acids from eccrine, apocrine, and sebaceous glands. While Corynebacterium species are linked to malodour at various body sites, research on the microbial causes of scalp malodour remains limited (James et al., 2013).
Industry Impact and Potential:
A study on body odour in prepubescent children and teenagers found that the mid-scalp region emits a distinct greasy odour, unlike the neck and underarms, which have a ‘sour+sulphur’ smell that shifts to primarily ‘sulphur’ after exercise. The mid-scalp consistently exhibits a dominant ‘sour’ odour, suggesting unique microbial metabolism in this area (Lam et al., 2018).
Research suggests that the microbiome of the scalp is more stable compared to those of other areas of the body. This stability is attributed to the limited impact of showers on the scalp's microbial community and the presence of microbes residing in the hair follicles, which contribute to a more resilient and stable microbiome (Lam et al., 2018).
A study found higher levels of Malassezia globosa and Cutibacterium acnes in the scalp and neck compared to the underarms, with children’s scalps dominated by M. globosa and teenagers’ by C. acnes, aligning with apocrine gland changes during puberty. However, no specific microbes were identified as linked to scalp malodour (Lam et al., 2018).
An additional study demonstrated that diacetyl (2,3-butanedione) is a major contributor to malodour of the scalp (Hara, Matsui & Shimizu, 2014).
To truly unlock the potential of microbiome science in tackling scalp malodour, further research is essential. This exploration could revolutionise our approach to hair care, paving the way for innovative products that not only address but transform our understanding of scalp health.
Our Solution:
With a database of 20,000 microbiome samples and 4,000 ingredients, along with a global network of 10,000 testing participants, Sequential offers customised solutions for microbiome studies and product formulation. Our dedication to creating products that maintain microbiome integrity make us the ideal partner for your scalp and hair care product development needs, including the exploration of malodour-addressing scalp care solutions.
References:
Hara, T., Matsui, H. & Shimizu, H. (2014) Suppression of Microbial Metabolic Pathways Inhibits the Generation of the Human Body Odor Component Diacetyl by Staphylococcus spp. PLOS ONE. 9 (11), e111833. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0111833.
James, A.G., Austin, C.J., Cox, D.S., Taylor, D. & Calvert, R. (2013) Microbiological and biochemical origins of human axillary odour. FEMS Microbiology Ecology. 83 (3), 527–540. doi:10.1111/1574-6941.12054.
Lam, T.H., Verzotto, D., Brahma, P., Ng, A.H.Q., Hu, P., Schnell, D., Tiesman, J., Kong, R., Ton, T.M.U., Li, J., Ong, M., Lu, Y., Swaile, D., Liu, P., Liu, J. & Nagarajan, N. (2018) Understanding the microbial basis of body odor in pre-pubescent children and teenagers. Microbiome. 6 (1), 213. doi:10.1186/s40168-018-0588-z.
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