NL-GHK-Cu peptide therapy to eliminate hair loss and weakening

NL-GHK-Cu peptide therapy, as a modern treatment, allows for the halt or significant alleviation of hair loss or hair weakening problems of various origins.

Introduction

Hair follicles appear already in fetal life. As is known, they almost immediately begin to work intensively, fully covering the scalp within several months. Excessive hair loss or baldness is a serious problem affecting men and women of various ages, and its intensity is influenced not only by genetics but also by lifestyle. Hair loss and baldness can appear as early as adolescence, but most commonly affects middle-aged and older individuals. Modern peptide therapy using NL-GHK-Cu allows for the elimination and alleviation of the above conditions.

HAIR STRUCTURE AND PHYSIOLOGY

In general terms and by definition, hair is a thread-like, keratinized and specialized product of the epidermis. Hair occurs exclusively in mammals, on the surface of their skin. It is composed mainly of protein, more specifically of hard, cohesive keratin present in hair in amounts ranging from 65% to 95%. The most important amino acid making up hair keratin is cysteine. Cysteine contains a thiol group in its structure, which enables the formation of disulfide bridges. The number and arrangement of disulfide bridges determines the shape of the hair, giving it the form of curls or being responsible for its straight character. The hair root, positioned in the skin at an oblique angle, is connected to the arrector pili muscle, which responds to stimuli such as cold or fear, causing it to contract, which in turn leads to the raising of the hair. Directly above the muscle are the sebaceous glands. Their excretory ducts enter the hair follicle near the epidermis, between the hair shaft and the follicle wall. The secretion of the sebaceous glands, commonly known as sebum, which is introduced through the hair follicle onto the surface of the hair and scalp, is responsible for regulating the water-lipid balance of the skin and hair. Depending on the amount of this secretion, hair becomes greasy faster or slower. Sebaceous glands are so-called holocrine glands, which release their contents as a result of the breakdown of the cells that form them, in a discontinuous manner. Hair falls out after 2–6 years and a new hair later grows from the same follicle. The average person, having approximately 100,000 hairs on their head, loses about 300 hairs per day, which is a manifestation of the completely natural phenomenon of hair renewal.

HAIR GROWTH

A genetically programmed hair follicle has the ability to produce 20–30 hairs over the entire lifetime of an individual. Each hair grows for several years and then falls out, so that a new one can grow in its place. The growth cycle of individual hairs in humans, unlike in animals, is not synchronized, which is why the phenomenon of molting does not occur in us.

The hair growth process consists of three basic phases, which include:

1. Anagen, as the hair growth phase. This phase lasts from 3 to 6 years. In women, this phase is usually longer than in men, which is why they can generally grow longer hair. This is different in the case of eyebrows and eyelashes, in which the anagen phase lasts only 1 to 2 months, which is why they never grow long.
2. Catagen, the transitional phase, is very short and usually lasts from 1 to 2 weeks. During this time the follicle shrinks and the papilla decreases in size.
3. Telogen, as the hair resting phase. This phase usually lasts from 2 to 4 months. In this phase, the hair separates completely from the papilla and falls out, being "pushed out" by the newly growing anagen hair in the follicle. Telogen hairs are dead (including the root), metabolically inactive and insensitive to any toxic factors. The hair growth cycle is subject to a complex control system. It can be halted or disrupted at any of its phases by many different occurring factors.

Additionally, the hair is supplied with substances needed for growth by a system of capillary blood vessels that supply the bulb. This is practically the only way to nourish the hair, as the skin and the walls of the hair follicle are impermeable to most chemical compounds. The rate of hair growth and its condition depend significantly on the functioning of the blood vessels that deliver nutrients, which is why many agents that accelerate hair growth act indirectly, among other ways, by improving blood circulation in the scalp.

THE ROLE AND SIGNIFICANCE OF HAIR

Hair in humans primarily protects us from solar radiation, injuries, cold and insects. Hair shafts distribute sebum and sweat from the apocrine glands, i.e. those whose openings are located in hair follicles. Hair also constitutes a subtle sensory organ, e.g. for touch. An undeniable role of hair is as an adornment and decoration of the head. Although the biological significance of hair may seem relatively minor, its loss, regardless of gender and age, is associated with great discomfort and constitutes not only a serious aesthetic problem, but also a psychological one.

CAUSES OF HAIR LOSS AND WEAKENING

Hair loss can be caused by many different conditions that are not directly related to the hair itself. The most common conditions causing hair loss and weakening include:

A. Hormonal disorders Hormones are responsible for approximately 90% of hair loss cases in both men and women. In men, testosterone is metabolized in the hair follicle by the enzyme 5α-reductase into its derivative dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which leads to miniaturization of the hair follicles. As a consequence, follicle atrophy occurs, resulting in hair loss. In women, hair weakening and loss occurs when, as a result of hormonal imbalances, selected hair follicles exhibit excessive sensitivity to androgens. Hormones also affect hair loss in women who have recently given birth.

B. Chronic systemic diseases e.g. diabetes, liver diseases

C. Autoimmune diseases e.g. Hashimoto's disease, rheumatoid arthritis

D. Infectious diseases e.g. syphilis

E. Diseases accompanied by high fever e.g. influenza, pneumonia

F. Mental disorders e.g. trichotillomania

G. Drug-induced hair loss

The medications most commonly causing hair problems include hormonal drugs, anti-atherosclerotic drugs, cardiac drugs, anticoagulants, anti-psoriatic and anti-acne drugs, antifungal drugs, antiviral drugs, anti-cancer drugs and antidepressants.

H. Stress

I. Improper care

Improper hair care can lead to significant thinning of hair. These include, among others, aggressive and frequent hairdressing treatments such as perming or dyeing, straightening or curling.

J. Poisoning

Poisoning of the body with heavy metals, e.g. mercury, thallium (characteristic pigment deposits in hair in the anagen phase), lead can result in hair loss.

K. Diet

A diet low in protein can result in insufficient nourishment of the hair follicle. When the body lacks iron or zinc, the effect is similar. For this reason, excessive hair loss can be observed in people suffering from bulimia and anorexia.

In every case of excessive hair loss, the absolute basis is a detailed interview with the person struggling with the problem of hair loss and weakening, i.e. conducting a so-called subjective examination. The fundamental aspects that play the main role in determining appropriate treatment methods are: how long the hair has been falling out or how long the thinning has been observed, how many hairs are typically lost per day, whether hair loss also affects siblings, parents and grandparents, whether anything preceded the onset of hair loss, including illness, surgery, anesthesia, commencement of pharmacotherapy, a stressful situation, pregnancy, etc., whether the patient is taking any medications, whether the patient suffers from any diseases, what the patient's diet looks like (vegetarianism, veganism), whether the patient follows any diet and whether they have undertaken or are currently undertaking weight loss attempts, whether menstruation (in women) occurs regularly and whether it is heavy, and whether the patient has already undergone any tests, been consulted by other specialists, and whether they have already undertaken any treatment for hair loss.

In the case of hair loss in men, to make a correct diagnosis and implement appropriate treatment, a carefully collected medical history, a thorough physical examination and trichoscopy are very often sufficient. In women, in all less or more suspicious cases, additional blood diagnostic tests usually need to be carried out as well. Any results of additional tests can only be interpreted on the basis of the clinical picture (history and physical examination).

NL-GHK-CU PEPTIDE THERAPY IN THE PROBLEM OF EXCESSIVE HAIR LOSS AND WEAKENING

The NL-GHK-Cu peptide, according to research, constitutes an important element of therapy aimed at inhibiting hair loss. In cases where deficiencies of certain factors are identified, changing or tightening the diet are not sufficient solutions, which is why appropriate doses of the peptide, taken regularly, allow for the elimination of the hair loss problem and the strengthening of its structure, as well as in the prevention of the baldness problem.

Through conducted research, it is known that the tripeptide-copper complex influences hair growth through various mechanisms, including stimulation of skin fibroblasts and increased expression of vascular endothelial growth factor. It is also known to reduce the secretion of transforming growth factor-β1 by skin fibroblasts. Furthermore, it reduces the number of apoptotic dermal papilla cells, showing an elevated Bcl-2/Bax ratio and a reduced level of cleaved forms of caspase-3. NL-GHK-Cu can be considered one of the safe and complementary agents in the treatment of alopecia and excessive hair loss.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

1. Lee WJ, Sim HB, Jang YH, Lee SJ, Kim do W, Yim SH. Efficacy of a Complex of 5-Aminolevulinic Acid and Glycyl-Histidyl-Lysine Peptide on Hair Growth. Ann Dermatol. 2016;28(4):438-443. doi:10.5021/ad.2016.28.4.438.

2. Dorin RJ. Prevention of hair aging processes. Chemistry and Business. Cosmetic and Household Chemistry Market 2014, vol. 2: 197.

3. Kozłowska U, Kozłowska A. Pathophysiology of hair growth and loss. Dermatological Review 2001, vol. 88: 19-25.