Hair plays a significant role in shaping one’s appearance and can be closely tied to self-esteem and confidence. When someone starts losing their hair or experiences thinning, it can have profound psychological effects, including feelings of self-consciousness, embarrassment, and even depression.
Alopecia treatments can have side effects and may not work for everyone. Hence, there is a pressing need for the development of new, more potent agents to tackle this issue.
Researchers in Japan see hair-growth potential in a familiar spice: cinnamon!
Recent research at Yokohama National University suggests that while oxytocin has potential for promoting hair growth. However, its size and instability limit its effectiveness when applied to the skin. Instead, the research team is exploring cinnamic acid, found in cinnamon, as a potential alternative to mimic oxytocin’s benefits on hair follicles.
But hold off on those cinnamon rolls—dousing yourself in the spice won’t magically sprout new strands.
Researchers cultured human scalp cells, specifically dermal papilla cells, and exposed them to different concentrations of cinnamic acid. Their findings revealed that cinnamic acid treatment resulted in elevated expression levels of oxytocin receptors, amplifying the expression of genes related to hair growth.
However, the researchers cautioned that further investigation is imperative before incorporating cinnamon extracts into treatments for hair loss.
