L’Oréal’s new hair care ingredient to enhance hair density

Cosmetics manufacturer L’Oréal has developed a new active ingredient Stemoxydine that wakes up dormant hair and enhances hair density.

The firm said the new ingredient is a molecular biomimic of hypoxia that stabilises the protein Hif1a, reported CosmeticsDesign-Europe.com.

According to the France-based firm, it has found that hypoxia is a condition that occurs when a region of the body is deprived of oxygen.

The firm said in several studies it has shown that hypoxic conditions are important in controlling some of the functions of stem cells, and the HIF1 (Hypoxia Inducing Factor) transcription factor plays an important role in controlling the expression of numerous genes involved in cell survival.

L’Oréal explains that in hypoxic culturing conditions, stemoxydine affects the regenerative potential of hair-derived stem cells and can increase capillary density in human volunteers.

L’Oréal research fellow Michelle Rathman-Josserand said the new discovery may play an essential role in maintaining stem cell function.

"The resulting molecule, independent of the level of oxygenation, targets and inhibits prolyl-hydroxylases thereby enabling the accumulation of the active form of HIF1 as is observed with hypoxia," added Josserand.

The firm said it has also discovered Aminexil a new ingredient, which acts upon the collagen structure around the hair follicle and increases hair anchoring, and aims to increase hair density.

Stemoxydine, which has been verified as safe for cosmetic use, was patented and tested in in vitro conditions, the company said.

It is being planned to launch a new hair product called Neogenic in September, which is developed by using Stemoxydine by L’Oréal.