In Vivo Evaluation of Insect Wax for Hair Growth Potential

The 2018 study investigated the effects of insect wax on hair growth in mice and found that 45% and 30% concentrations of insect wax significantly promoted hair regrowth, comparable to the positive control of 5% minoxidil. The hair growth was attributed to the transition of hair follicles from the telogen phase to the anagen phase and the prolongation of the anagen phase, rather than an increase in the number of hair follicles. The dissociative policosanol in insect wax was identified as the key ingredient responsible for these effects. Additionally, both concentrations of insect wax and 0.5% policosanol upregulated the expression of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF), which is known to stimulate blood vessel formation and nutrient supply to hair follicles. The study concluded that insect wax, particularly due to its policosanol content, has potential as a hair growth agent, although the exact mechanism was not fully determined and the number of mice used was not specified.