Chitin and Chitosans: Characteristics, Eco-Friendly Processes and Applications in Cosmetic Science

A peptide from Japanese water chestnut fruit may help with hair loss by suppressing DHT's effect on hair follicle cell death, potentially serving as a finasteride alternative. The treatment's effectiveness and safety in humans remain uncertain.

Exploring a potential hair loss treatment using the enzyme AKR1C2 to locally reduce DHT levels. Challenges include enzyme delivery through the skin and high production costs, with gene therapy or stem cells suggested as future alternatives.

Collagen, chondroitin sulfate, hyaluronic acid, and MSM are used to improve hair appearance, making it fuller, thicker, and shinier. The user noticed significant hair improvement after resuming these supplements.

Topical finasteride may have higher systemic absorption and lower efficacy when using a Propylene Glycol/Ethanol formulation compared to the hydroxypropyl chitosan (HPCH) formulation. The safety profile of topical finasteride relies heavily on the HPCH formulation, and using standard solutions might lead to different pharmacokinetics.

The conversation is about making topical finasteride using ethanol. The user is advised to use non-denatured or food-grade ethanol, as denatured ethanol may be harmful with prolonged skin exposure.

A user is interested in creating a hair growth serum using oleic acid, palmitoleic acid, and anhydrous ethanol, and seeks advice on sourcing these ingredients. Another user plans to mix these with minoxidil, which already contains ethanol, and mentions using RU58841.