The hair benefits of ectoine.

Until now, no study has demonstrated any effectiveness of theectoine on hair. However, it is possible to formulate hypotheses regarding potential benefits for the hair.

Dan ZHAO and his colleagues sought to explain how ectoine can protect the skin from UVA rays and the resulting oxidative stress, by exposing human fibroblasts to UVA rays and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). After exposure and the addition of ectoine at 8 μg/mL, there was a significant increase in fibroblast proliferation, a halving of reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, and a significant increase in the activities of the antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px).

According to studies, it has been demonstrated that photo-aggravation of hair ageing leads to a drying and stiffening of the hair fibre, linked to lipid oxidation. The photochemical protection of hair proteins, such as keratin, is provided by hair pigments that absorb and filter radiation, then dissipate this energy as heat. However, when these pigments act to protect these proteins, they themselves can be degraded or discoloured, resulting in white hair.

Similarly, numerous studies have demonstrated that superoxide, a free radical generated by photosensitisation, is the root cause of lipoperoxidation, and therefore the formation of lipid peroxidation products that damage DNA. These same studies have shown that increasing local concentrations of SOD can counteract the greying of hair through the elimination of these free radicals.

It can therefore be hypothesised that ectoine would act against the photo-ageing of hair by increasing the levels of antioxidant enzymes, particularly SOD, and by preventing lipoperoxidation. As a result, the hair would be less dry. Furthermore, it could play a role in preventing or reducing the onset of white hair by preserving hair pigments.