Copper-Peptide Skin-Repair / Hair Growth Agents
When you are young, your scalp is thick and your hair follicles have a rich blood supply. However, as you age and also because of DHT effects, your scalp thins, its blood supply is diminished, and it provides less support and nutrition for your hair follicles. This produces smaller follicles that produce thin hair shafts.
Skin repair and hair growth enhancement effects are closely linked. New skin appears to arise from the hair follicle. Certain products based on skin repairing copper-peptides can be used to both repair skin, increase hair follicle size, and stimulate hair growth.
Skin regenerating copper peptides may help reverse or minimize many of these effects. Studies by Prof. Hideo Uno (who wrote UpJohn's textbook for physicians when Rogaine first was marketed) have found that, in animal studies, skin repairing copper-peptides often convert thin, vellus hairs into thick, terminal hairs.1
A major cause of hair follicle miniaturization appears to due to the development of striking changes in capillaries surrounding the hair follicles. Comprehensive surveys of the male scalp from birth to senescence find that very significant changes in the structure of the blood vessels of the scalp. The number of the blood capillary loops supplying the hair follicle is greatly diminished. The inadequate subepidermal circulation that can develop as males age does not provide a rich nutrition for the follicle. Strong hair growth requires a large flow of nutrients such as such as vitamins, minerals and amino acids so that the follicle can actively synthesize new hair.
Blood flow impairments to the follicle, and their reversal, may explain why the administration of copper peptides (such as Folligen and Tricomin) to the scalp increase hair growth and increase the size of hair shafts. It has long been known that certain copper-peptide complexes strongly stimulate angiogenesis or new blood vessel formation. The increase in hair follicle size and the rate of hair growth caused by the administration of copper-peptides may be due to their causing blood flow changes that provide adequate nutrients to the follicle, producing faster growing hair with thicker hair shafts.
In the microscopic images above, the magnifications are identical. The top photo is mouse skin untreated with copper- peptides. The bottom photo is mouse skin treated with copper-peptides. Note the larger hair follicles (the elongated purple columns) in the lower photo, the increased content of subcutaneous fat in the skin (the white material in the center of the skin), and the increased thickness of the skin. When we are young, we have a layer of fat under the skin (part of "baby fat") which is greatly reduced as we age. Hair researchers have noted the accumulation of this fat around healthy follicles that are vigorously growing hair, and its relative lack in around dormant follicles, and have postulated that these cells serve a supportive function for the hair follicle. In animal studies, copper peptides have reduced or stopped the hair loss associated with chemotherapy for cancer. It must be emphasized that effects in in humans on hair follicle health are not as dramatic.
In addition, copper ion in the skin is a potent inhibitor of both type I and Type II 5-alpha reductase which produces the hair-follicle-damaging DHT. Copper-peptide products may deliever sufficient copper ion into the skin to reduce DHT around the hair follicle.
Skin-Repair / Hair Growth Agents - Advantages of Folligen
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Natural Multiple Stimulators - Folligen is an extension of this Iamin-based work but uses a more biological method to renew the scalp and follicles. Research on skin and hair follicle renewal indicates that optimal regeneration is obtained only when there are multiple signals for renewal. Folligen contains copper ion plus a mixture of numerous different peptides fragments that are generated by natural proteolytic enzymes (as happens after follicle or scalp damage). This produces numerous copper-peptide complexes in a more natural manner to assist the hair's natural regenerative processes.
Rebuilds Protective Acid Mantle - Folligen rebuilds the protective acid mantle of the scalp that shampoos and conditioners remove. The acid mantle is the combination of sebum (oils) and perspiration, on the skin's surface that protects the skin and renders the skin less vulnerable to damage and attack by environmental factors such as sun and wind and less prone to dehydration. The mantle also has strong anti-oxidant properties and is itself oxidized to protect the skin from oxidation. Sebum is naturally white but air oxidation turns it black (this is why "whitehead comedos" turn into "blackhead comedos").
Normal skin and scalp pH is somewhat acid and in the range of 4.2. to 5.6. It varies from one part of the body to another and, in general, the pH of a man's skin is lower (more acid) than that of a woman's. The acid mantle inhibits the growth of foreign bacteria and fungi and the skin remains healthier, and has fewer blemishes. Acne, allergies and other skin problems become more severe when the skin become more alkaline.
Folligen adjusts the scalp pH into the acid range of optimal scalp health at about pH 5.0. Folligen also contains high levels of lipids such as squalane, cetyl alcohol, glyceryl stearate and stearic acid that closely resembles the fats of the acid mantle. Furthermore, Folligen contains antioxidants such as allantoin, aloe, vitamin E and retinol to aid the mantles protective anti-oxidant properties.
In this manner, Folligen improves scalp health and aids hair growth. Folligen works well with Minoxidil or the Minoxidil and Retinoic Acid combination. Will Brinks, a noted nutritional writer, has recommended for hair growth, a combination of Folligen, Propecia, Minoxidil and Nizoral (a shampoo sold by Jannsen Pharmaceuticals) in a article in Muscle Magazine International.2
Folligen's SRCPs and Minoxidil
Numerous studies have found that copper-peptides increase hair follicle size.3 Even modest increases in copper in the skin produces over 90% reductions in the production of DHT, the hair growth inhibiting hormone. Increased tissue copper levels also decrease damaging types of oxidations and protein crosslinking (protein glycation) and raises DHEA levels.
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The Folligen products are the latest inventions by Dr. Loren Pickart, whose earlier hair stimulating inventions have led to Tricomin which has been shown in clinical studies to stimulate hair growth and GraftCyte which has been shown in clinical tests to stimulate the success of hair transplants.
Pickart's first generation of copper products have produced products for improving the success of hair transplants: GraftCyte® Advanced Hair Restoration Technology: GraftCyte® Moist Dressings, GraftCyte® Hydrating Mist, GraftCyte® Post-Surgical Shampoo and Conditioner, and GraftCyte® Head Start Single Patient Pack and products for the stimulation of hair growth such as American Crew Revitalize Spray Solution®, American Crew Revitalize Daily Conditioner®, American Crew Revitalize Serum®, American Crew Revitalize Daily Moisture Shampoo®, Tricomin® Solution Follicle Therapy Spray, Tricomin® Revilitalizing Shampoo, Tricomin® Restructuring Conditioner and Tricomin® Conditioning Shampoo.
Skin-Repair / Hair Growth Agents - Retinoic Acid
(Tretinoin, Retin-A) Tretinoin (Retin-A): Tretinoin is medication for reducing skin wrinkles, and is sold under the brand name Retin-A. It increases collagen production and causes inflammation on the skin when applied topically. Tretinoin is not approved for use as a hair loss treatment, however when used on the scalp in combination with minoxidil, it has been shown to increase hair growth more than minoxidil used alone. One theory is that retinoic acid works by reducing sebum production from the sebaceous glands. The idea is that sebum which contains DHT is secreted on the scalp, then reabsorbed into the hair follicles to do further damage.
In one study, retinoic acid alone and in combination with 0.5% minoxidil has been tested for the promotion of hair growth in 56 subjects with androgenetic alopecia. After 1 year, the combination of topical retinoic acid with 0.5% minoxidil resulted in terminal hair regrowth in 66% of the subjects studied. Retinoic acid alone was shown to stimulate some hair regrowth in approximately 58% of the subjects studied. One female subject with pronounced alopecia for more than 20 years had regrowth of hair using only retinoic acid for a period of 18 months.4 Some dermatologists claim that the combination of 2% minoxidil and retinoic acid works better than 5% minoxidil alone.
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While minoxidil works best on the vertex of the scalp, the combination of retinoic acid (Tretinoin, Retin-A) and minoxidil results in improved hair growth in all regions of the scalp. The combination treatment of topical minoxidil and retinoic acid is said to be very effective in women.
The main problem with retinoic acid is the skin irritation include blistering, altered pigmentation, and increased sensitivity to light. Because of this irritation, a lower strength of retinoic acid (0.025%) is recommended. Folligen users report that it works well with retinoic acid and markedly reduces scalp irritation.
Retinoic acid works on men and women and costs about about $20 - 30 for a normal tube in the USA but is much cheaper in many other countries. There are claims that retinol (vitamin A or retinyl alcohol) and retinolaldehyde are as effective as retinoic acid but without the irritation. However, these claims are disputed. To achieve the skin and hair effects of retinoic acid with these compounds may require levels of these compounds that produce vitamin A toxicity.
Copper-Peptides to Reduce Minoxidil/Retinoic Acid Irritation
Copper-peptide (in products such as Folligen, Iamin, and Protect & Restore) may be used to reduce minoxidil/retinoic acid irritation. During irritation and inflammation, the skin is damaged by immune cells that release toxic oxygen radicals into the damaged area. The purpose of these oxygen radicals is to kill invading bacteria after wounding but often the oxygen radicals are released in the absence of any bacteria.
The use of cortisone and corticosteroids to reduce skin irritation is not recommended. Corticosteroids act by killing the immune cells to stop oxygen radical release but this also kills the immune cells that release the skin repair growth factors and hence stops skin repair which ultimately leads to a thinned and damaged skin.
Copper-peptides, on the other hand, directly detoxify the oxygen radicals. They also transfer copper to superoxide dismutase (SOD), the skin's primary anti-oxidant protein, which activates the skin's SOD which further increases the removal of oxygen radicals. Also, the copper-complexes have been shown to strongly stimulate the skin's repair systems and improve healing and skin renewal. The above mentioned nickel allergy study demonstrated both the anti-inflammatory and skin repair properties of copper-peptides.5
Skin-Repair/Hair Growth Agents - Azelaic Acid (Azelex, Skinoren)
Azelaic acid is used in the treatment of acne and other skin conditions. Studies in France found that the combination of zinc sulfate and azelaic acid could inhibit 5-alpha reductase activity in human skin at concentrations as low as 0.2 mmol/l and there was complete 5-alpha reductase inhibition at 3 mmol/l. The combination of zinc, vitamin B6 and azelaic acid was found to be even more effective in the inhibition of DHT production.
While there are no studies on hair growth with azelaic acid, but its anti-acne properties suggest that it may be useful as a topical antiandrogen. It is considered safe and FDA approved for skin treatment uses. It costs between $20 to $30 per tube.
Skin-Repair/Hair Growth Agents - Tricomin
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Tricomin Solution Follicle Therapy Spray® is sold by ProCyte Corporation. It is another copper-peptide complex that stimulates hair growth and was invented by Dr. Loren Pickart in 1987 and, in a sense, is an earlier version of the approach used in Folligen. Tricomin had its genesis in attempts to create Iamin molecules with an increased solubility in, and retention by, wounds and other tissues. To achieve this purpose, the non-polar or "fatty" character of the molecule was synthetically increased by either chemically linking fatty acids to Iamin or adding amino acid residues to Iamin which had a more "fat-like" nature. While such "fatty" Iamins worked well for wound-healing, they also markedly increased hair growth around experimental wounds.
Tricomin has demonstrated effectiveness for hair growth stimulation in placebo-controlled clinical trials and in direct comparisons with minoxidil. Tricomin produces slightly more hair growth than minoxidil and produces thicker hair shafts than minoxidil. Unfortunately, the solution into which Tricomin has been recently formulated gives evidence of inhibiting hair growth. Users often report scalp irritation, itching and flaking. Tricomin Solution contains high levels of ethyl alcohol, detergent and also contains blue dye, all of which may irritate the scalp. This may reduce its overall hair growth effects.
Tricomin vs. Minoxidil - Change in number of terminal hairs in tested area:
Type of Treatment |
Treatment Group |
Placebo Controlled Group |
| Minoxidil (2% after 4 months) - Nonvellus hair | +73 |
+31 |
| Tricomin (2.5% after 3 months) - Nonvellus hair | +97 |
-51 (inhibition of hair growth |
Anti-androgens and DHT Blockers
SRCPs and Hair Regrowth Agents