Like other cosmetic ingredient manufacturers, Seppic is getting a closer look at the skinification of the hair care products market. Indeed, more and more consumers around the world have realized that healthy hair is directly linked to having a healthy scalp. According to Mintel, in China, over 90% of those who use hair products believe that scalp care can enhance their hair health.
To meet this demand and offer a solution to protect the scalp against daily aggressions, Seppic is re-exploring the potential of Alariane CV [1], an anti-aging active ingredient of marine origin initially launched in 2008, in order to provide a double protective effect on the scalp: protection of hair follicles cells as well as protection of scalp lipids from exposome [2].
Alariane CV is an extract of Alaria esculenta, also known as the “Irish wakame”. It is a traditional food along the far northern coasts of the Atlantic Ocean, eaten for its excellent health properties as well as for its binder/detoxifier effect against heavy metals [3].
Tests have been carried out to illustrate the effect of Alariane CV protection capacity against cadmium, a heavy metal present in overall pollution due to cigarette smoke or phosphate fertilizers for example. In contact with cadmium, the scalp is weakened and submitted to inflammation, and thus, hair follicles are no longer able to produce healthy hair.
According to Seppic, the use of Alariane CV demonstrated, by in vitro protocols, a significant diminution of 27% of hair follicles inflammation compared to non-treated one, after cadmium stress. Microscopic observations of cells in presence of Alariane CV show an increase in their number and an improvement in their morphology, similar to cells not exposed to cadmium. Alariane CV has a protective action on the hair follicle against inflammation induced by cadmium, and helps to preserve scalp function and maintain healthy hair. The in vitro data have also shown the protection of lipids peroxidation after a UVB stress.
