Unipex launches ingredient designed to reduce hair loss
The ingredient, which will be officially launched at next week’s in-cosmetics in Milan, Italy, has been designed to target three contributing factors to hair loss: hair miniaturization, hair anchoring, and inflammation, the company claims.
Capixyl is the combination of a peptide and a red clover extract, and has two different mechanisms of action, a Unipex spokesperson said.
“The first mechanism of action is to increase ECM [extra cellular matrix proteins such as collagen] integrity and the other is to inhibit DHT modulation,” the spokesperson told CosmeticsDesign.com USA.
DHT (dihydrotestosterone) is a hormone known to play a role in hair loss, whose synthesis is reliant on the enzyme 5 alpha reductase. According to Unipex, Capixyl inhibits DHT modulation by inhibiting 5 alpha reductase.
The company claims that by targeting these two pathways, Capixyl can help stimulate hair growth, reduce hair loss and reduce inflammation in the scalp.
Leave on and eyelash growth products
According to the spokesperson, the ingredient is particularly designed for leave on products in order for it to have more contact with the scalp.
In addition, the spokesperson said that many companies were currently testing the product for use in eyelash growth.
The ingredient is the first foray for the company into the hair care sector and was developed in partnership with the Institut Européen de Biologie cellulaire (IEB), recently acquired by the company.
IEB is specialised in the development of biomimetic peptides, and became part of the Unipex group in January 2008.
