Intervention: A serum containing plant-derived Ashwagandha Exosomes, applied topically to the scalp once daily (n = 20).
Methods: A 0.5 in2 micro-tattooed test site was shaved at baseline, week 4 and week 12, and the 48-hour change in hair count was assessed using a Fotofinder® dermoscopy device. Subjective questionnaires, a hair pull test, expert grader tolerance evaluation and subjective tolerance grading scores were also employed.
Study Duration: 12 weeks
Eligibility Criteria:
Total hair counts were significantly increased after 12 weeks of application of the serum (P<0.01 vs. baseline). Anagen hair count was also significantly increased at the 12-week timepoint (P<0.01 vs. baseline). No changes in telogen (resting phase of the hair growth cycle) hair count were detected.
Changes in hair counts. Left: Total hair count; Center: Anagen hair count; Right: Telogen hair count. **P<0.01 compared to baseline. Adapted from Raymond et al., Efficacy and Safety of a Novel Plant-Based Exosome-Like Vesicle From Ashwagandha Seed for Improving Hair Growth Parameters. World Congress of Dermatology (2023), July 3 – 8.
Representative Fotofinder® images of the target area at baseline and 12 weeks. Adapted from Raymond et al., Efficacy and Safety of a Novel Plant-Based Exosome-Like Vesicle From Ashwagandha Seed for Improving Hair Growth Parameters. World Congress of Dermatology (2023), July 3 – 8.
Results from the subjective questionnaire revealed beneficial effects in hair growth and hair quality, with significant improvements reported in measures including hair quality (‘My overall hair quality has improved’), hair strength (‘My hair feels stronger’) and hair growth (‘My hair is growing faster’).
All subjects had normal hair pull test results at baseline, week 4 and week 12, indicating that the serum did not induce shedding. Expert graded and subjective tolerance scores indicated that the serum was well tolerated.
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