How Are Peptides Used For Hair Growth?

Let’s take a closer look at what you need to know about peptides for hair growth.

The Science Behind Hair Growth

A hair follicle is a pore surrounding the root and strand of hair in the top two layers of your skin. From birth, you have over five million hair follicles on your body and over one million hair follicles on your head. Many babies are born without hair, but hair grows as they age.

The primary function of a hair follicle is to grow your hair, but it also does the following jobs:

• Forms new blood vessels (angiogenesis)
• Forms new nervous system neuron cells (neurogenesis)
• Helps repair your skin after a wound or injury

Because the cells of your hair follicles are closest to a wound when it forms, they quickly move toward the wound site to start the healing process by assisting the body’s white blood cells within your immune system. Hair grows in cycles within your hair follicles.

Anagen

The first phase of hair growth can take between two to seven years. Growth begins at the root (also called the dermal papilla) in your hair follicle, which provides your hair with blood supply and the nutrients it needs to grow. Your hair typically grows about one centimeter in a month.

Catagen

The second phase of hair growth occurs when the hair transitions from a growing phase to a resting phase, typically taking about two weeks. During this phase, your hair detaches from your blood supply.

Telogen

The third and final phase of hair growth is the inactive phase, during which your hair sheds or falls out of the hair follicle. This process can take up to four months.

Hair follicles are present everywhere on your body where you have hair. Most hair follicles are contained in the initial layers of your skin (epidermis and dermis). However, the hair follicles that hold your terminal hairs (the hair that grows on your scalp, eyebrows, and eyelashes) may extend into the third layer of your skin (subcutaneous tissue).

Several factors and medical conditions affect hair growth, including:

• Alopecia areata
• Baldness
• Blackheads
• The dilated pore of Winer
• Folliculitis
• Hidradenitis suppurativa
• Stress
• Telogen effluvium
• Whiteheads

Peptides for Hair Growth

As we discussed previously, peptides are minuscule chains of amino acids made up of 2-50 amino acids, and peptides may help support hair growth by promoting hair follicle growth and increasing blood circulation to the scalp.

Here are some of the prevalent ways peptides may help restore hair growth:

• Stimulating hair follicle growth: Some peptides may act as DHT blockers that may help prevent the hormone from inhibiting hair growth by stimulating the production of keratin, a critical protein for healthy hair.
• Increasing blood circulation: Peptides like copper peptides may help improve the blood flow, oxygen, and nutrient supply to the scalp, which boosts natural hair growth.

• Hair follicle nourishment: Some peptides may help nourish hair follicles, resulting in healthier and more robust hairs.
• Anti-inflammatory effects on the scalp: Certain peptides like Acetyl Tetrapeptide-3 may have anti-inflammatory effects on the scalp skin, helping reduce inflammation and irritation that can prohibit new hair growth.

A 2012 study of healthy women aged 21 to 75 years who had thinning hair found that taking an oral peptide supplement twice a day for 90 days significantly improved overall hair volume, scalp coverage, and thickness of the hair body.¹ These benefits continued after 180 days of twice-daily supplementation, along with the added benefits of improvement in hair shine, skin moisture retention, and skin smoothness. There were also no adverse events reported during the study.

Another study showed that the APN5 peptide promotes hair growth and suppresses hair loss symptoms. This peptide may effectively treat alopecia, a condition that causes hair loss in millions of people worldwide.

Types of Peptides for Hair Growth

Selecting the correct peptide is crucial for achieving optimal hair growth results. Some of the primary peptides that may help stimulate hair growth are listed below:

1. Copper Peptides: Copper peptides may improve blood vessels’ health, leading to better scalp circulation and hair nourishment. They have also been found to promote the growth of hair follicle cells.
2. Keratin Peptides: Keratin peptides may support hair growth because keratin is the primary protein in hair. Studies have found that topical application of keratin peptides can help improve overall hair strength and thickness.
3. Acetyl Tetrapeptide-3: This peptide may have anti-inflammatory properties, helping to reduce inflammation on the scalp, which might lead to new hair follicle growth.
4. Biotinoyl Tripeptide-1: When applied topically or taken as an oral supplement, this peptide may promote increased blood flow to your scalp, nourishing your hair follicles and promoting healthier-looking locks.
5. GHK-Cu: GHK-Cu has shown research results that help improve tissue regeneration, collagen synthesis, and antioxidant activity. Its use seems promising in promoting healthier-looking skin, including on the areas of the scalp where hairs grow.
6. Hexapeptide-11: This peptide may help increase collagen production and may be able to convert young vellus hair into mature terminal hair.

The effectiveness of peptides for stimulating hair growth can often depend on several factors, such as your age, your medical history, or hormone levels; it is recommended that you speak with a dermatologist knowledgeable about hair care for individualized treatment options that best suit your needs.

How to Use Peptides for Hair Growth

Topical peptides for hair growth are applied directly on your scalp and hair. Examples of topical peptide products include conditioners, hair masks, serums, and shampoos.
Topical peptide products come with dosage instructions that the manufacturer determines. It is essential that you only use these products as directed. Overuse of peptide products can cause side effects.

If you experience side effects after using a peptide product, you should stop and see your doctor.

Peptides are not likely to have negative interactions with other hair care ingredients, and some components could boost the effectiveness of the peptides.

Peptide-based treatments for hair loss should only be used under the guidance of a qualified medical professional or dermatologist specializing in treating hair conditions.

Risks and Precautions

Peptide supplements are not likely to cause serious side effects for healthy individuals because they are very similar to the peptides we get from foods. Still, you should know some side effects, risks, and precautions.

Oral peptide supplements may not enter your bloodstream as intended because your body can break them down into individual amino acids during digestion.

Topical peptide products might cause skin sensitivity, itching, and rash, especially if you have sensitive skin or a skin condition.

If you have a pre existing medical condition and are currently taking medications, pregnant, or breastfeeding, you should not use peptide products without your doctor’s permission. Even if you are healthy and these conditions do not apply, it is still recommended that you consult your doctor before using a peptide product.

Last Words

Peptides are beneficial to the health of our skin and hair. We get peptides from food such as beans, meat, and fish. However, peptide supplements are also available, and they come in the form of oral supplements, injections, and topical products. Topical products are the most popular peptide supplements because they are inexpensive and non-invasive.

Peptides may promote hair growth in several ways, including:

• Stimulating hair follicle growth
• Increasing blood circulation
• Hair follicle nourishment
• Anti-inflammatory effects on the scalp

Six types of peptides that may stimulate hair growth:

• Acetyl tetrapeptide-3
• Biotinoyl tripeptide-1
• Copper peptides
• GHK-Cu
• Hexapeptide-11
• Keratin peptides

You should never begin using peptide products without initially speaking with your doctor first if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, taking medications, or living with a medical condition. Even if you are healthy, you should still check with your doctor or a dermatologist specializing in hair conditions, as they can advise you on which peptides are best for you and how to use these products properly.

Most peptide supplements are available without a prescription. However, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not regulate over-the-counter supplements and products as strictly as prescription products are regulated. That is why it is vital to undergo peptide supplementation under medical supervision from your primary care physician or a dermatologist specializing in hair loss and issues.