TLDR Green tea component EGCG could potentially promote human hair growth.
In the 2007 study, researchers investigated the effects of epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), a major component of green tea polyphenols, on human hair growth. They found that EGCG promoted hair growth in ex vivo cultured hair follicles and increased the proliferation of cultured human dermal papilla cells (DPCs) both in vitro and in vivo. The mechanism behind this stimulation appeared to be related to the upregulation of phosphorylated Erk and Akt and an increase in the Bcl-2/Bax ratio, which are associated with cell proliferation and anti-apoptotic effects. These findings suggest that EGCG could potentially be used to stimulate human hair growth by targeting DPCs.
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.
1 citations,
September 2013 in “Elsevier eBooks” Hair ages and thins due to factors like inflammation and stress, and treatments like antioxidants and hormones might improve hair health.
10 citations,
November 2014 in “Journal of Dermatological Treatment” Polyphenols may help treat skin conditions like warts, hair loss, acne, and dark spots, but more research is needed.
13 citations,
December 2017 in “BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine” The Asian herbal mix with Houttuynia cordata, Perilla frutescens, and green tea helped grow hair in mice.
7 citations,
July 2018 in “Journal of Functional Biomaterials” A new anti-baldness patch effectively treats hair loss by blocking enzymes linked to the condition.
20 citations,
July 2015 in “Journal der Deutschen Dermatologischen Gesellschaft” Green tea may help with skin health and protect against UV damage, but more research is needed to confirm its safety and effectiveness.
