Going bald? Rubbing sandalwood oil on your scalp may stimulate hair growth
- When applied to scalp tissue in the lab, the oil stimulates hair growth in six days
- Hair follicles contain ‘smell receptors’ that respond to the aromatic odor
- This triggers the main protein found in hair, known as keratin, to multiply
- Smell receptors are throughout the body and respond to chemicals in scents
Millions of men who are going bald may benefit from rubbing sandalwood oil onto their scalps.
Laboratory tests of scalp tissue by German researchers found it stimulates hair growth after just six days.
Bizarrely, hair follicles are thought to contain ‘smell receptors’ that respond to the aromatic odor and trigger the main protein in hair to multiply.
Although humans and animals are only able to smell through their noses, receptors in hair, sperm, and even our guts are able to recognize chemicals in certain aromas.
The findings could lead to a sandalwood-based balding treatment that may benefit the quarter of men who start to lose their hair by the time they turn 25.
Men who are going bald may benefit from rubbing sandalwood oil onto their scalps (stock)
Studies have already shown that exposing human skin cells to sandalwood in the lab causes the protein keratin to multiply, which speeds up wound healing.
Intrigued whether the aromatic wood may also boost hair growth, the researchers from the Monasterium Laboratory, Münster, exposed human scalp tissue to the artificial sandalwood-like odor Sandalore.
Sandalore is often added to fragrances and moisturizers to give a sandalwood aroma and has previously been used in previous experiments investigating its effect on keratin.
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