Analysis of the Penetration of a Caffeine Containing Shampoo Into the Hair Follicles by In Vivo Laser Scanning Microscopy

December 2009 in “ Laser Physics ”

Jürgen Lademann, Heike Richter, Sabine Schanzer, Adolf Klenk, Wolfram Sterry, Alexa Patzelt

caffeine hair follicles in vivo laser scanning microscopy topically applied substances

The study utilized in vivo laser scanning microscopy to examine the penetration of caffeine from a shampoo into hair follicles. It was found that a 2-minute contact time was sufficient for significant accumulation of caffeine in the follicles, reaching a depth of approximately 200 μm, which is the detection limit of the microscopy used. This depth is where the network of blood capillaries around the follicles begins. Caffeine remained detectable in the follicles even after 24 hours, indicating that hair follicles can serve as a long-term reservoir for topically applied substances like caffeine.

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Research cited in this study

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research The Role of Hair Follicles in the Percutaneous Absorption of Caffeine

182 citations , December 2007 in “BJCP. British journal of clinical pharmacology/British journal of clinical pharmacology”

Hair follicles significantly increase the speed and amount of caffeine absorbed through the skin.

research Investigation of the Penetration and Storage of a Shampoo Formulation Containing Caffeine into the Hair Follicles by In Vivo Laser Scanning Microscopy

24 citations , February 2007 in “Laser Physics Letters”

The study investigated the penetration of a caffeine-containing shampoo into hair follicles using in vivo laser scanning microscopy. It was found that a 2-minute contact time allowed the formulation to penetrate deeply into the follicles and remain for up to 48 hours, even after washing. This highlighted hair follicles as significant targets for drug delivery due to their surrounding capillary network. The study also demonstrated the effectiveness of in vivo laser scanning microscopy in analyzing the dermatopharmacokinetics of topically applied substances.

research Follicular Penetration of Topically Applied Caffeine via a Shampoo Formulation

93 citations , January 2007 in “Skin Pharmacology and Physiology”

The study investigated the follicular penetration of caffeine when applied topically via a shampoo formulation for 2 minutes. Using surface ionization and mass spectroscopy, it was determined that caffeine penetrated through both hair follicles and the stratum corneum. The results indicated that penetration through hair follicles was faster and more significant compared to the interfollicular route, establishing that hair follicles were the primary pathway for rapid caffeine absorption within the first 20 minutes post-application.

research Effect of Caffeine and Testosterone on the Proliferation of Human Hair Follicles In Vitro

114 citations , January 2007 in “International Journal of Dermatology”

The study investigated the effects of testosterone and caffeine on human hair follicles in vitro, using samples from 14 male patients with androgenetic alopecia (AGA). Testosterone at 5 µg/ml significantly suppressed hair follicle growth, but this effect was counteracted by caffeine at concentrations of 0.001% and 0.005%. Caffeine alone also significantly stimulated hair follicle growth. These findings, confirmed by Ki-67 staining, suggested that caffeine could be a potential stimulator of hair growth and may have clinical implications for managing AGA.

research Variations of Hair Follicle Size and Distribution in Different Body Sites

405 citations , January 2004 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology”

Hair follicle size and distribution vary significantly across different body sites.

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