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Glossary Sebum

oily substance produced by sebaceous glands in skin

Sebum is an oily substance produced by sebaceous glands in the skin. It helps to lubricate and waterproof the skin and hair, providing a protective barrier against external elements. Sebum is composed of triglycerides, wax esters, squalene, and free fatty acids, and its overproduction can contribute to conditions like acne.

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Research

5 / 1000+ results

research Sebum Free Fatty Acids Enhance the Innate Immune Defense of Human Sebocytes by Upregulating β-Defensin-2 Expression

195 citations , December 2009 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology”

This study found that sebum free fatty acids may enhance the antibacterial defense of human sebaceous glands by upregulating the expression of the antimicrobial peptide hBD-2, potentially aiding in acne treatment.

research Terbinafine levels in serum, stratum corneum, dermis-epidermis (without stratum corneum), hair, sebum and eccrine sweat.

121 citations , January 1991 in “Acta dermato-venereologica”

In this study, terbinafine reached high concentrations in stratum corneum and sebum after oral administration, with drug levels remaining above fungicidal concentrations for over three weeks.

research Ceramide synthase 4 deficiency in mice causes lipid alterations in sebum and results in alopecia

67 citations , April 2014 in “Biochemical Journal”

This study found that mice deficient in ceramide synthase 4 showed altered sebum composition and progressive hair loss due to obstructed hair canals.

research The effects of finasteride on scalp skin and serum androgen levels in men with androgenetic alopecia

65 citations , October 1999 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology”

In this study, finasteride doses as low as 0.2 mg per day significantly reduced both scalp skin and serum DHT levels in men with androgenetic alopecia.

research Normal Fur Development and Sebum Production Depends on Fatty Acid 2-Hydroxylase Expression in Sebaceous Glands

40 citations , June 2011 in “Journal of biological chemistry/The Journal of biological chemistry”

This study revealed that deficiency in the enzyme FA2H in mice affected sebaceous gland function, altered sebum composition, and caused cycling alopecia, highlighting FA2H's role in hair follicle homeostasis.

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Community Join

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community Sebum on scalp has reduced, what gives ?

1 upvotes 7 months ago

The reduction in scalp oiliness is likely due to finasteride reducing DHT levels and the use of ketoconazole shampoo. The combination of these treatments may have decreased sebum production.

community Sebum production even on dutasteride, and its relation to MPB.

in Finasteride/Dutasteride 6 upvotes 9 months ago

The conversation discusses managing hair loss and scalp issues, with users sharing experiences using treatments like dutasteride, finasteride, ketoconazole, sulfur soap, and topical anti-androgens. Suggestions include trying sulfur soap, scalp massages, spironolactone, and dietary changes to reduce sebum production and dandruff.

community Serum based on plant extracts boosts hair growth in weeks.

44 upvotes 11 months ago

A serum containing Centella asiatica extracellular vesicles, IGF-1, FGF-7, and caffeine significantly improved hair thickness, density, length, and reduced hair loss after 56 days. The conversation also discusses how treatments like finasteride, minoxidil, and ketoconazole address different aspects of hair loss by reducing DHT, improving blood flow, and lowering inflammation.

community Serum DHT CAN'T cause hair loss. Sebum DHT is a better measurement.

in Research/Science 19 upvotes 2 years ago

Serum DHT is mostly inactive; sebum DHT is a better measure for hair loss. Users discuss using finasteride, dutasteride, and topical treatments like KX826 and RU58841 for better scalp DHT suppression.

community Serum containing minoxidil and bimatoprost analogs

1 year ago

A user discusses using a serum called Dallixa, containing minoxidil-like and bimatoprost-like compounds, for hair loss and greying. The user's dermatologist advised against finasteride and suggested the serum might improve hair pigmentation.

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Learn

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learn Bimatoprost

Can a lash-growth serum like bimatoprost actually work for your scalp? Bimatoprost (Latisse) is FDA-approved only for eyelashes, not the scalp. In the larger of two Allergan phase 2 scalp trials, every bimatoprost formulation gave smaller hair-count gains than minoxidil 5%; the results were posted to ClinicalTrials.gov but never published in a journal, and scalp use remains off-label and experimental.

learn Exosomes

Are exosomes applied as a serum, an injection, or combined with other hair treatments? Clinics offer exosomes as scalp injections, as serums applied after microneedling, or combined with PRP. No exosome product is FDA-approved, and no reliable evidence shows that any of these methods works.

learn Rapamycin

Are there any visible side effects when using rapamycin cream or serum on the scalp? No study has tested rapamycin on the scalp; in facial trials skin reactions were common (64% vs 29% placebo; Aitken et al. 2023, PMID 37463422).

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