This increase in fat-like properties is obtained by either chemically synthesizing fatty acids into the GHK molecule or attaching amino acid residues such as alanine, phenylalanine or leucine to the basic GHK structure.

These analogs originally arose in an attempt to create GHK-Cu analogs which would be retained in body tissues for longer periods of time.

However, it was noted that - while such analogs were superior wound healing agents - they also markedly increased hair growth around the periphery of experimental wounds in mice.

These hair stimulating analogs were created by Drs. Steven Lovejoy, Loren Pickart and Boris Weinstein.

Skin repair and hair growth enhancement effects are closely linked. New skin appears to arise from the hair follicle.

Certain products based on Iamin can be used to both repair skin, increase hair follicle size, and stimulate hair growth. As a person ages, our hair follicles get smaller, producing thinner hair shafts.

A major cause of hair follicle miniaturization appears to be due to the development of striking changes in capillaries surrounding the hair follicles.

Comprehensive surveys of the male scalp from birth to senescence find very significant changes in the structure of the blood vessels of the scalp.

The number of the blood capillary loops supplying the hair follicle is greatly diminished. The inadequate subepidermal circulation that can develop as males age does not provide a rich nutrition for the follicle.

Strong hair growth requires a large flow of nutrients such as such as vitamins, minerals and amino acids so that the follicle can actively synthesize new hair.

Blood flow impairments to the follicle, and their reversal, may explain why the administration of copper peptides (such as Folligen and Tricomin) to the scalp increases hair growth and increase the size of hair shafts.

It has long been known that certain copper-peptide complexes strongly stimulate angiogenesis or new blood vessel formation.

The increase in hair follicle size and the rate of hair growth caused by the administration of copper-peptides may be due to their causing blood flow changes that provide adequate nutrients to the follicle, producing faster growing hair with thicker hair shafts.

Copper ion complexed with certain peptides has both skin repair and hair growth enhancement effects.

Examples of this are Folligen (from Skin Biology), and Tricomin and GraftCyte (from ProCyte Corporation).

The skin of the mouse to the bottom left was shaved, then treated in three spots with Folligen. The result is a much more rapid hair growth (the three circular patches of hair) in the three spots treated with Folligen.

While human hair growth will not respond nearly as dramatically as in mice, skin health and hair follicle function are closely interrelated.

New skin appears to arise from the hair follicle. As a person ages, our hair follicles get smaller, producing thinner hair shafts.

The blood circulation that supplies nutrients and oxygen to the hair follicle send fewer blood vessels to the hair follicle, thus inhibiting the vital flow of nutrients to the hair follicle.

Copper-peptide complexes improve skin health and a more healthy skin increases the blood vessel network to the hair follicles resulting in larger follicles that grow hair faster with thicker hair shafts.

In the microscopic images to the left, the magnifications are identical.

The top photo is mouse skin untreated with copper-peptides.

The bottom photo is mouse skin treated with copper-peptides.

Note the larger hair follicles (the elongated purple columns) in the lower photo, the increased content of subcutaneous fat in the skin (the white material in the center of the skin), and the increased thickness of the skin.

When we are young, we have a layer of fat under the skin (part of "baby fat") which is greatly reduced as we age.

Hair researchers have noted the accumulation of this fat around healthy follicles that are vigorously growing hair, and its relative lack around dormant follicles, have postulated that these cells serve a supportive function for the hair follicle.

In animal studies, copper peptides have reduced or stopped the hair loss associated with chemotherapy for cancer. It must be emphasized that effects in humans on hair follicle health are not as dramatic.

New Hair Follicle Formation?

At times, SRCPs can apparently induce a proliferation of hair follicles, although this phenomena is difficult to reproduce on a consistent basis.

The photograph on the top left is a microscopic field of mouse hair follicles in an animal treated only with saline. The photograph on the bottom is a similar area of mouse skin treated with copper-peptides and which has a much higher density of hair follicles.

Individual experiments on hair follicle multiplication are consistent, that is, the effect is actual when it occurs, but repeated results are difficult to obtain.

The variability may be due to different timing in the hair growth cycle or slight changes in the type of, or formulation of, the copper-peptide preparations.

Such experiments strongly suggest that, under certain circumstances, new hair follicle formation can be induced in adult animals.

Purchase
Hair Signals Solution
for Scalp Health

$19.95

Purchase
Hair Signals Cream
for Scalp Health

$23.95

Purchase
Folligen Cream
for Scalp Health

$21.95

Purchase
Folligen Lotion
for Scalp Health

$21.95

Purchase
Folligen Spray
for Scalp Health

$38.95

Reducing Hair Loss After Chemotherapy

The hair loss caused by chemotherapy drugs used for cancer treatment can be minimized with copper peptides.

Awa and Nogimori found that application of copper peptides minimize hair loss after chemotherapy and accelerated new hair growth in rats.

Publications on SRCPs and Hair Growth

Study - Use of GHK-Cu analogs for hair follicle enlargement and stimulation of hair growth

Result

Methods for the design and testing of copper-peptide complexes with hair growth properties are described.

A wide variety of GHK-Cu analogs were described that increase hair follicle size and increase hair growth in mice and rats.

References

Study - Stimulation of hair growth in mice

Result

GHK analogs with hydrophobic residues were tested and found to stimulate hair growth in rats.

References

Study - Stimulation of hair growth in mice and rats

Result

The details of hair stimulation by copper peptides was studied by

1) phototrichogram,

2) folliculogram (micro morphometric analysis), and

3) the rate of DNA synthesis in the follicular cells.

The effects were essentially a stimulation of the follicular cell proliferation, resulting in an enlargement of the anagen follicles from vellus to terminal type (therapy) or a maintenance of the piebald terminal follicles (prevention). A SRCP (PC1020) had the effect of follicular enlargement on the back skin of fuzzy rats, covering the vellus follicles.

References

Study - Minimizing hair loss after cancer chemotherapy

Result

Rats were pretreated with SRCPs then exposed to chemotherapeutic drugs. This reduced hair loss.

If the rats were first given chemotherapeutic drugs, the treated with SRCPs later, the SRCPs speeded hair regrowth.

References

Study - Human hair growth

Result

Stimulation of hair growth in humans with GHK-Cu analogs.

References

Study - Hair growth in rats

Result

Stimulation of hair growth in rats.

References

Study - Hair growth in rats

Result

Stimulation of hair growth in rats with GHK-Cu analogs.

References

Study - Human study of hair growth with GHK-Cu analogs.

Result

Compared GHK-CU analog in Tricomin with 2% minoxidil. Tricomin 2.5% increased hair count by 97 non-vellus hairs while 2% minoxidil increased count by 73 non-vellus hair after 3 months (non-vellus hair count)

References

Study - Breakdown resistant, long acting copper-peptides used for stimulation of hair growth.

Result

Tested copper complexed with protein peptones for hair growth effects in mice. Copper-peptide mixture produced more hair growth in mice than GHK-Cu analogs.

References

Reviews

Subject

Skin remodeling and hair growth.

References

Stimulation of Fingernail Growth

Skin and Hair Transplantation Studies