A NEW STRATEGY TO MODULATE ALOPECIA 55 experiment, it was concluded that the mixture of red clover extract and acetyl tetrapeptide-3 has the potential to modulate cutaneous infl ammation in conditions similar to those found in the course of male pattern alopecia. CLINICAL REDUCTION IN HAIR LOSS Clinical effi cacy of the mixture of red clover extract and acetyl tetrapeptide-3 (TP) in reducing hair loss was addressed using TrichoScan™. The technology combines epilu- minescence microscopy with digital image analysis for the measurement of hair growth in vivo. The method is suitable for the determination of the density of hair (n/cm2) in the anagen and telogen phases, the hair diameter (μm), the hair growth rate (mm/day), and the A/T ratio. For a more detailed description of the method, see the Material and Methods section. Of the two groups of 15 participants originally enrolled, 15 placebo people and 14 treated people completed the 4-month study. The product or the placebo lotion was applied to the scalp at night, as described earlier. Overall tolerability of the topical formulations was excellent and no adverse events were reported. Results, which are expressed graphically in Figure 7, show that treatment with a mixture of red clover extract and acetyl tetrapeptide-3 statistically increased anagen hair density after 4 months of treatment (p 0.1), whereas there is no statistic difference in the anagen hair density after treatment with the placebo lotion. Within 4 months, the number of hair in the anagen phase increased by an average of +13% in the treated group, whereas the number decreased by −2% in the placebo group. Treatment with the test product also induced a strong reduction in telogen hair density compared to the placebo group (Figure 7B). Average telogen hair density decreased by −29% over baseline in the treated group but increased by +23% in the pla- cebo group, over the 4-month study. In accordance with these results, the A/T ratio in- creased signifi cantly (p ≤ 0.05) by +46% over baseline in the treated group, whereas it decreased signifi cantly (p ≤ 0.05) by −33% in the placebo group for the same period. The Figure 6. Effects of red clover extract (0.5% and 1%) and a mixture (TP) of acetyl tetrapeptide-3 and red clover extract (0.5% and 1%) on IL-1-induced IL-8 secretion from NHDFs. DMS at 1 μM served as positive control for inhibition of IL-8 secretion.

JOURNAL OF COSMETIC SCIENCE 56 A/T ratio being a comparison of the number of anagen to telogen hair follicles, the observed increase in A/T ratio attests that the test product is able to promote hair growth in people suffering from recessing hair. CONCLUSION Taken together, these results support the effi cacy of the test product in improving hair growth by rebalancing the A/T ratio and promoting healthy hair growth. The mixture combines the benefi ts of both biochanin A-enriched red clover extract and biomimetic acetyl tetrapeptide-3 to simultaneously address multiple factors involved in the progres- sion of male pattern alopecia. The mixture acts on recessing hair by limiting hormonal infl uence through inhibition of 5-α-reductase activity, preventing aggravation of hair loss due to microinfl ammation and supporting hair growth through stimulation of ECM protein synthesis. Clinical effi cacy in supporting hair growth was successfully addressed in a 4-month randomized, placebo-controlled study involving volunteers presenting signs of male pattern alopecia. Figure 7. Effect of topical application of 20 drops of a 5% mixture of acetyl tetrapeptide-3 and red clover extract (TP) on hair cycle: (A) average anagen hair density at 4 months (T = 4) of treatment, compared to baseline (T = 0) (B) average telogen hair density at 4 months of treatment (T = 4), compared to baseline (T = 0) and (C) average ratio of hair in the anagen versus telogen phase of the hair cycle, at 4 months of treat- ment (T = 4), compared to baseline (T = 0).