1 citations
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July 2022 in “International journal of trichology” This study found that Type 3 hair oil penetrated the hair shaft more effectively than coconut oil, resulting in greater increases in hair thickness and tensile strength.
11 citations
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October 2017 in “International Journal of Molecular Sciences” In this study, oil body-bound oleosin-rhFGF-10 was more efficiently absorbed through the skin and enhanced wound healing and hair growth in mice, compared to prokaryotically-expressed rhFGF-10.
11 citations
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January 2006 in “International Journal of Cosmetic Science” Some oils can penetrate hair and reduce the stickiness between fibers, but mineral oil cannot.
31 citations
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January 2012 in “Skin Research and Technology” In this study, curcumin was successfully encapsulated in ethyl cellulose and its blend with methyl cellulose, enhancing its skin penetration efficacy through o/w and w/o lotions compared to water suspensions.
April 2017 in “The journal of investigative dermatology/Journal of investigative dermatology” This study found that Quantitative Mass Spectrometry Imaging offers precise localization and quantification of active compounds in skin tissues, demonstrating benefits over traditional LC-MS in drug penetration studies.
19 citations
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July 2020 in “Journal of drug delivery science and technology” This study found that nano-sized minoxidil formulations significantly increased skin penetration and follicular drug delivery for alopecia areata treatment, compared to conventional ethanol-based solutions, and demonstrated effective controlled release over six hours.
3 citations
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September 2005 in “International Journal of Cosmetic Science” This study found that monounsaturated oils like olive oil penetrate hair fibers effectively, whereas polyunsaturated oils typically do not penetrate beyond the cuticle.
3 citations
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September 2020 in “Journal of cosmetic dermatology” This study found that coconut oil significantly increased the tensile strength of twisted hair fibers due to its ability to penetrate the hair core, in contrast to mineral oil.
April 2024 in “Cosmetics” Different oils affect hair flexibility and strength, with their impact varying on whether hair is virgin or bleached.
132 citations
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April 2007 in “European journal of pharmaceutics and biopharmaceutics” This study found that an oil-in-water microemulsion of curcumin penetrated deeper into the human stratum corneum and hair follicles compared to an amphiphilic cream.
June 2024 in “International Journal of Cosmetic Science” This study found that various plant oils can penetrate the lipid-rich cell membrane complex of hair, improving its fatigue strength by preventing flaw propagation, with greater penetration observed for oils containing shorter chain lengths and unsaturated fatty acids.
10 citations
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February 1993 in “International Journal of Cosmetic Science” This study found that clove, olive, and turpentine oils completely prevented hair penetration by the fungi Microsporum gypseum and Trichophyton vanbreuseghemii.
11 citations
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June 2001 in “PubMed” Coconut oil can penetrate hair better than mineral oil, potentially protecting against damage.
23 citations
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March 2021 in “Gels” This study found that minoxidil solubilized in gelatin-containing microemulsions resulted in over 5% of the drug remaining in porcine skin, significantly more than the reference gel.
15 citations
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November 2017 in “Drug Delivery and Translational Research” This study found that co-applying Curcuma aeruginosa extract or essential oil with minoxidil significantly increased minoxidil's skin penetration in an ex vivo setting, suggesting an improved topical treatment strategy for androgenic alopecia with greater efficacy and the potential for lower minoxidil doses.
4 citations
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November 1970 in “PubMed” This study found that mustard oil and unsaturated fatty acids completely suppressed dermatophyte growth and prevented hair penetration at concentrations of 1% and above in Sabouraud's dextrose agar medium.
January 2026 in “Colloids and Surfaces B Biointerfaces” This study found that treating damaged hair with maleic-modified amino silicone oil created a highly hydrophobic surface, reducing water content and improving hair's mechanical properties and thermal stability.
January 2026 in “Pharmaceutical Development and Technology” This study found that nanostructured lipid carriers containing tea seed or lavender oil improved hair regrowth in female Wistar rats over 30 days, showing greater effectiveness compared to a commercial product and placebo, attributed to enhanced follicular penetration and stability.
June 2025 in “Jurnal Pemberdayaan Ekonomi dan Masyarakat” This study concluded that there is a significant market potential for rosemary oil-based hair care products in Indonesia, though consumer education and market penetration remain challenges.
January 2022 in “Advanced Pharmaceutical Bulletin” This study found that clove oil and LPGSE pretreatment increased finasteride skin permeability, while extending urea pretreatment reduced its penetration.
19 citations
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July 1993 in “Journal of Applied Toxicology” This study found that various petroleum distillates caused significant skin changes in mice, with severity varying based on the product and penetration pathway, potentially leading to skin tumors through non-genotoxic mechanisms in longer-term exposure.
9 citations
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April 2019 in “Journal of structural biology” This study found that coconut oil impedes hair hydration more effectively than soybean oil by penetrating deeper, and suggested a new model for intermediate filament assembly in hair.
September 2025 in “Institutional Repositories DataBase (IRDB)” The nanoemulsion system effectively delivers drugs through the skin and shows promise for treating skin conditions.
July 2025 in “Scientific Reports” This study reported that fermented grapeseed oil may enhance hair permeability and improve strength and color retention in chemically treated hair compared to regular grapeseed or silicone oils.
February 2026 in “Cureus” This review highlights that castor oil has potential dermatological uses, including enhancing hair luster, reducing hyperpigmentation, and improving skin hydration and elasticity, although rare side effects like contact dermatitis occur, necessitating further research to confirm its effectiveness in these applications.
May 2026 in “Advanced Pharmaceutical Bulletin” In this study, black cumin oil-based nanostructured lipid carriers enhanced the delivery and effectiveness of fluticasone for psoriasis in a mouse model, improving skin targeting, inflammation reduction, and permeability compared to standard cream.
July 2025 in “International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR)” This research outlines the potential of nanoemulgels as a superior alternative to conventional topical treatments, noting their ability to improve skin permeability, drug release, and therapeutic targeting, though challenges remain in formulation stability and consistency.
June 2021 in “Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)” This study reported the preparation of stable oil-in-water nanoemulsions that effectively incorporate ceramide-like molecules and minoxidil, suggesting these formulations may enhance distribution and availability of hydrophobic compounds in cosmetic applications.
This study found that encapsulating curcumin within specific polymers increased its oral bioavailability, photostability, and release in both mice and in vitro, compared to free curcumin.
205 citations
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September 2018 in “Nutrients” This review summarizes the volatile components, biological activities, and potential safety concerns of essential oils from various Curcuma species, but reports no new clinical results.