TLDR Garlic can help hair grow by activating certain growth pathways, and it works whether you eat it or apply it to your scalp.
The study conducted on 42 rats demonstrated that both oral and topical applications of Garlic Exosomes (GEs) significantly promoted hair growth by activating Wnt-1, β-catenin, VEGF, PDGF, and TGF-β1 signaling pathways. The number of anagen follicles (active growth phase of hair follicles) increased even at a low dose of GEs (2 mg/kg/day). A higher dose (4 mg/kg/day) resulted in larger follicle diameter and more pronounced activation of signaling pathways. Topical application of GEs not only increased anagen follicle growth equivalent to the low-dose oral GE but also increased the follicle diameter more than the low-dose oral GE, and stimulated the β-catenin, VEGF, PDGF, and TGF-β1 pathways to a greater extent. The study suggests GEs could potentially be used for treating hair loss in humans, pending further research.
5 citations,
October 2021 in “PubMed” Exosomes from human fat stem cells can potentially enhance hair growth and survival, providing a new possible treatment for hair loss.
65 citations,
July 2020 in “Science Advances” Dermal exosomes with miR-218-5p boost hair growth by controlling β-catenin signaling.
87 citations,
April 2018 in “Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications” Exosomes from dermal papilla cells can help grow hair and might treat hair loss.
2 citations,
September 2017 in “Mehmet Akif Ersoy Üniversitesi Veteriner Fakültesi dergisi” Specific genes influence hair growth and quality in goats and sheep.
61 citations,
January 2007 in “Indian Journal of Dermatology Venereology and Leprology” Garlic gel with betamethasone cream significantly improves hair regrowth in alopecia areata.
89 citations,
December 2006 in “Lancet Oncology” Taking 1 mg/day finasteride for hair loss significantly lowers PSA levels in men, which may affect prostate cancer screening.
78 citations,
June 2003 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology Symposium Proceedings” TGF-β1 from dermal papilla cells suppresses hair growth, and targeting it may help treat androgenetic alopecia.
Garlic can help hair grow by activating certain growth pathways, and it works whether you eat it or apply it to your scalp.
