Histidine is one of 18 amino acids that are essential to the maintenance and health of your hair. Unlike other Divi hair product ingredients like Vitamin C, peppermint oil and green tea extract, many people looking for a better hair care routine have never heard of histidine, much less know how this ingredient treats hair loss.
Histidine is an ingredient in Divi’s Shampoo, Conditioner and Scalp Serum that is blended with a range of other excellent ingredients to help promote healthy hair growth and scalp care.
This article will explore the studies carried out on histidine to determine its efficacy as an ingredient in hair care products.
Studies on Histidine Benefits for Treating Hair Loss
Scientists help discover ingredients that can help prevent hair loss by studying the causes and any contributing factors.
A 2017 study found that 77.8% of people with telogen effluvium (hair shedding) and 90% with androgenic alopecia (pattern hair loss) suffered from histidine deficiency. Other deficiencies noted in the study included leucine, valine, alanine, cysteine, zinc, iron and copper. This shows that proper nutrition is critical to the prevention of hair loss.
A 1998 study found that increased oral intake of histidine, zinc, copper and l-cysteine resulted in significant hair growth in a number of subjects.
A 2020 article by Karyn Repinski explored the links between hair loss and the benefits of soothing the area. Moisturization and soothing can reduce inflammation and counteract trauma from scratching.
This is also true for eczema sufferers, and in 2020, the Journal of Nutrition published a study exploring histidine’s effect on filaggrin proliferation.
Filaggrin proteins help absorb and maintain moisture. This balances pH levels and can help with itchy and dry skin symptoms of conditions like psoriasis and eczema.
A 2014 study conducted by scholars at Columbia University in New York and the University of Education in Lahore, Pakistan, explored hair length regulators. The scientists explored the anagen phase of the hair cycle and found that histidine plays a significant role in the process, resulting in longer hairs and an increase in the anagen phase.
Extending the growth phase in the hair cycle can result in longer, thicker hair and help minimize hair shedding and thinning.
Symptoms Helped by Histidine
There are a few symptoms and causes of hair loss that histidine helps prevent:
- Androgenetic alopecia – A histidine deficiency is commonly associated with both male and female pattern hair loss. Histidine transportation is closely linked with zinc, which has been shown to have hair regrowth benefits.
- Telogen effluvium – Histidine deficiencies have been associated with telogen effluvium (hair shedding).
- Scalp psoriasis & scalp eczema – Histidine can soothe and moisturize the scalp, minimizing the symptoms of scalp psoriasis and eczema.
- Atopic dermatitis – Histidine supplementation has been shown to enhance the processing of filaggrin, which can benefit atopic dermatitis.
- Thinning hair – Histidine can help to absorb excess copper and shield the hair from ultraviolet B (UVB) and ultraviolet A (UVA) damage.
Is Histidine Safe for the Scalp?
Topical application of histidine is considered safe and no serious adverse effects have been identified.
Divi’s Shampoo, Conditioner and Scalp Serum products are dermatologically tested to ensure their safety, with each ingredient carefully selected and measured for maximum potential and efficiency. Our team of experts recommend patch-testing any new product just to be safe. If you experience adverse reactions, please stop using the product and consult your doctor before beginning another hair care routine.
Does the Histidine in Divi’s Hair Products Treat Hair Loss?
No individual ingredient of Divi’s hair care products directly treats hair loss. Instead, ingredients are selected for their individual benefits and potential to benefit the scalp, hair follicles and growth cycle.
Histidine has properties that soothe the scalp, prevent hair damage, and minimize shedding.
These benefits, along with the benefits of other ingredients, help provide the best environment for hair growth and hair regrowth and minimize or delay potential hair loss.
Hair Loss and Androgenetic Alopecia Explained
Androgenetic alopecia is commonly caused by dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and is a genetic condition. DHT can interfere with the hair growth cycle by shortening and shrinking the hair, which makes hair loss more likely and hair regrowth more difficult.
Although this is a male sex hormone, DHT can also result in hair loss in females. Hormonal contraceptives, menopause, pregnancy and other conditions that affect female hormones can also result in hair loss.
Common Causes of Hair Loss
Hair loss can be a result of numerous reasons, including:
- Hormonal imbalance – Hormonal imbalances typically affect women but can also affect men in some cases. Menopausal women or women who take birth control or are pregnant may notice hair loss. Thyroid issues and polycystic ovary syndrome can also have an impact.
- Nutrient deficiency – A balanced diet is crucial to hair growth. Your hair follicles require the right vitamins and nutrients, including omega oils (omega-3 fatty acids), zinc, Vitamin D and copper. Good blood flow to the scalp will ensure that your hair receives the oxygen and nutrients required to promote hair growth.
- Unhealthy diet – Crash diets, sudden weight loss and poor nutrition can disrupt your hair cycle.
- Medical issues – Many medical issues can impact your hair. Folliculitis, ringworm, alopecia, psoriasis and seborrheic dermatitis can all affect your scalp and hair health.
- Stress – Stress and mental health can also play a part in hair loss.
- Hairstyles and treatments – Hairstyles that cause stress to the hair roots and follicles, as well as chemical shampoos, can cause damage that results in temporary and permanent hair loss.
- Genetics – In some cases, hereditary hair loss can be unavoidable. The genetics side of balding isn’t well understood, but it is a strong contributor, especially to pattern hair loss in both women and men.
- Medical treatments – Cancer treatments, such as radiation and chemotherapy, can cause damage to the follicles and dermal papilla cells, causing the hair to shed.
- Old age – Hair growth, volume and color can all be affected by age.
Other Divi Ingredients that Can Help Prevent Hair Loss or Promote Hair Growth
Divi’s hair care products use many excellent, clean ingredients that offer many potential benefits. These include:
- Menthol
- Tea tree oil
- Copper tripeptide-1
- Rosemary leaf extract
- Caffeine
- Coconut oil
- Black pepper seed extract (Viphyllin)
- Biotin
- Jojoba seed oil
- Ascorbic acid
FAQs
How should histidine be applied to hair?
Divi makes it easy for the topical application of histidine and many other beneficial ingredients.
Divi’s Shampoo should be applied to wet hair and massaged into the scalp to create a lather before rinsing clean. Follow these directions when using Divi’s Conditioner, which you should apply to wet hair and let sit for a minimum of three minutes. You can then comb our Conditioner through your hair and rinse it out.
To use Divi’s Scalp Serum, simply apply ¾ of a dropper daily, morning or night, to the scalp—focusing on any areas where results are desired. It can then be massaged in and left to absorb throughout the day or night.
Is histidine an essential amino acid?
Histidine is one of nine essential amino acids, including:
- Valine
- Tryptophan
- Phenylalanine
- Isoleucine
- Threonine
- Leucine
- Methionine
- Lysine
These amino acids are vital for several functions throughout the body, including tissue repair, nutrient absorption and protein synthesis.
They are needed to synthesize nitrogen-containing compounds, including neurotransmitters, creatine, peptide hormones and body protein.
Essential amino acids can help improve the body’s overall health as well as the health of the central nervous system. This is crucial to promoting the well-being of the scalp microbiome and hair follicle health.
Does histidine supplementation improve health?
Histidine is essential for human health. Histidine and zinc supplementation work well together, and clinical studies show it can help with urinary zinc excretion, absorption, circulation and metabolism for people also suffering from a zinc deficiency.
As a key component of keratin, zinc is essential to hair follicles. Keratin makes up nails, skin and hair and is one of the scleroproteins found in vertebrates.
What are the symptoms of histidine deficiency?
Histidine deficiencies can result in anemia and reduced hemoglobin. Hemoglobin is essential for carrying oxygen in blood cells, and a lack of it can affect hair health.
Other symptoms include depression and fatigue, and clinical studies link histidine deficiency with rheumatoid arthritis.
Why Divi?
Divi’s hair care products use clean ingredients and are cruelty-free, suitable for vegan use and dermatologically approved.
Ingredients are selected to create the perfect blend and maximize the potential for preventing hair loss and improving scalp and hair health. Now that we’ve established the benefits of histidine for treating hair loss and promoting scalp health, you should know that this amino acid is an ingredient in all three of Divi’s hair care products: our Scalp Serum, Conditioner, and Shampoo.
The team at Divi is an ally in your mission to improve your hair and scalp’s health. Our lineup of products all include clean and vegan-friendly ingredients, such as histidine. Buy our Scalp Serum today to begin taking steps to reinvigorate your scalp’s hair-growing environment.
References
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7284872/
https://academic.oup.com/jn/article/150/Supplement_1/2576S/5913289
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13555-018-0278-6
https://www.karger.com/article/fulltext/492035
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-021-94816-y
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28932059/
https://academic.oup.com/jn/article/150/Supplement_1/2576S/5913289
https://www.pnas.org/doi/pdf/10.1073/pnas.1402862111
https://academic.oup.com/jn/article/150/Supplement_1/2588S/5913298
