Name Ingredients:
Vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid is a water-soluble vitamin that is naturally present in some foods such as citrus fruits, and other fruits and vegetables. Vitamin C cannot be synthesized within the body, therefore it needs to be taken in through the diet. Therefore, vitamin C is sold as a dietary supplement and as a topical “serum” ingredient.
Key insights:
- Although vitamin C deficiency is typically associated with body hair abnormalities, there is no data correlating vitamin C levels and hair loss.
- The in vitro data suggests that vitamin C can stimulate dermal papilla cell (specialized cells involved in hair follicle growth and cycling) growth and enhance the expression of insulin-like growth factor – 1 a key growth factor involved in hair follicle growth.
- The ex vivo (skin explant) evidence suggests that a topical vitamin C cream can increase skin thickness as well as increase collagen production, which may benefit hair follicle health and growth. Furthermore, vitamin C derivatives have been found to increase the length of isolated hair follicles.
- There doesn’t appear to be any clinical evidence to suggest that vitamin C alone enhances hair growth.
- Our experience tracking members: by itself, vitamin C alone is not enough to improve hair loss outcomes.
Additional links:
- Vitamin C: Evidence Quality (Rubric)
- The hair growth promoting effect of ascorbic acid-2-phosphate, a long-acting vitamin C derivative
- Improvement of cell proliferation and antioxidant activity of silymarin in hair follicles dermal papillae isolated from the human scalp: comparison with vitamin C effects.