Piperine Reduces Hair Oiliness by Inhibiting Adipogenesis of Hair Stem Cells

The study demonstrates that piperine, a compound found in black pepper, can reduce hair oiliness by inhibiting adipogenesis (fat cell formation) in hair stem cells. The research involved mice on both normal and high-fat diets, with and without piperine supplementation. The high-fat diet increased the size and oiliness of the sebaceous glands (SG), which produce sebum, an oily substance that can make hair appear greasy. However, these effects were significantly reduced by piperine. Piperine also inhibited the expression of adipogenic PPARγ target genes, associated with SG development, and reduced the thickness of subcutaneous fat. These findings suggest that piperine could potentially be used as a treatment for controlling hair oiliness.