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Androgenic Alopecia and Exosome Scalp Therapy: P198

Androgenic alopecia affects up to 50% of men and 40% of women over their lifetimes — yet the clinical options available to practitioners have changed little in decades. Exosome-based scalp therapy represents a meaningful shift in how we approach this condition at the follicular level.

For aesthetic clinicians, hair loss is no longer a condition to refer elsewhere. As patients seek non-invasive, science-backed solutions beyond finasteride and minoxidil, the demand for in-clinic hair restoration treatments has grown significantly. Understanding the biology of androgenic alopecia — and how regenerative technologies like P198 ExoNature™ Recore address it — positions your clinic at the forefront of this expanding category.


Understanding Androgenic Alopecia: The Biology


Androgenic alopecia (AGA), also known as male or female pattern hair loss, is a progressive condition characterised by the gradual miniaturisation of hair follicles under the influence of androgens, primarily dihydrotestosterone (DHT).

DHT is derived from testosterone via the enzyme 5-alpha-reductase. In genetically susceptible individuals, DHT binds to androgen receptors in the dermal papilla cells of the hair follicle, triggering a cascade of biological changes that progressively shrink the follicle over successive hair cycles. Over time, terminal hairs become finer vellus hairs and eventually cease growing altogether.


The result is not a sudden loss of hair, but a slow biological erosion of the follicle's capacity to produce a viable hair shaft — a process that can begin as early as the teenage years and accelerates with age

The Hair Growth Cycle: What Goes Wrong in AGA


To understand how AGA disrupts hair growth, it helps to understand the normal hair cycle, which has three distinct phases:



In androgenic alopecia, the critical biological changes centre on the dermal papilla — the cluster of specialised fibroblasts at the base of the follicle that orchestrate hair growth. DHT exposure reduces dermal papilla inductivity, suppresses growth factors including FGF-7 and IGF-1, and ultimately drives the follicle into progressively shorter anagen cycles and earlier catagen transitions.


Published research confirms that dermal papilla inductivity — measurable via versican expression and alkaline phosphatase activity — is significantly decreased in androgenetic alopecia. Restoring this inductivity is therefore a key clinical target for any effective treatment approach.



The Limitations of Conventional Treatments


The two pharmacological standards of care for AGA — finasteride and minoxidil — have been available for decades. Both work, but both carry limitations that push patients to seek alternatives:



How Exosomes Work in the Scalp Environment


Exosomes are nano-sized vesicles naturally secreted by cells to carry biological signals — growth factors, proteins, and microRNA — between cells.

In the scalp, the relevant target cells are primarily:

  • Dermal papilla fibroblasts — which orchestrate hair cycle progression and follicle inductivity

  • Hair matrix keratinocytes — which proliferate during anagen to produce the hair shaft

  • Bulge stem cells — which initiate new anagen cycles and can regenerate follicle structures

  • Scalp fibroblasts — which maintain the extracellular matrix environment that supports follicle function


When exosomes derived from carefully selected plant or stem cell sources are applied to the scalp, they deliver a payload of bioactive signals that can promote cell proliferation, reduce inflammation, support dermal papilla inductivity, and improve the overall scalp microenvironment that follicles depend on.


Critically, published research on ginsenoside compounds from Panax ginseng has demonstrated that they enhance the proliferation of human dermal papilla cells (hDPCs), activate ERK and AKT signalling pathways, and inhibit the transcription of DHT-induced androgen receptors — directly addressing the core pathological mechanism of androgenic alopecia.


The Science of Panax Ginseng Exosomes


P198 ExoNature™ Recore is built on Panax Ginseng extracellular vesicles — plant-derived exosomes that bring a unique and well-researched biological profile to scalp therapy.

Panax ginseng has a documented history in traditional eastern medicine and an increasingly robust evidence base in modern dermatology and trichology.

Ginseng-derived extracellular vesicles have been shown in peer-reviewed research to:

  • Facilitate anti-senescence effects in human skin and scalp cells by downregulating senescence-associated molecules

  • Improve the replicative senescent phenotype of human dermal fibroblasts — the same cell type critical to dermal papilla inductivity

  • Carry a unique lipidomic profile distinct from the parent plant extract, with significant increases in bioactive lipid species including diacylglycerols, phosphatidylcholine, and sphingomyelin

  • Demonstrate anti-pigmentation effects in UV-treated human melanocytes — relevant to scalp inflammatory responses triggered by sun exposure

  • Promote cell proliferation and migration, with implications for follicle regeneration and wound-healing response in the scalp


Red ginseng extract, ginsenosides Rb1 and Rg3 have been shown to enhance the proliferation of human dermal papilla cells and hair matrix keratinocytes, activate ERK and AKT signalling pathways, and inhibit the transcription of DHT-induced androgen receptors — promoting hair growth in preclinical models. (Park et al., J Med Food, 2015)

P198 ExoNature™ Recore: What It Contains and How It Works



The formulation targets scalp and follicle health through two primary active components: Panax Ginseng Vesicles providing regeneration and anti-inflammation, and a six-peptide complex addressing specific aspects of follicle and scalp biology:



Why Inflammation Control Matters in AGA


One dimension of androgenic alopecia that conventional pharmacological treatments address poorly is scalp inflammation. Perifollicular inflammation — inflammatory infiltrate around the upper follicle — is a recognised histological feature of AGA and is thought to contribute to progressive follicle miniaturisation independently of DHT.


The anti-inflammatory activity of Panax Ginseng vesicles, combined with Copper Tripeptide-1 in P198 ExoNature™ Recore, targets this inflammatory dimension directly. By reducing pro-inflammatory cytokine activity in the scalp environment, the treatment supports a biological context in which follicles can maintain or restore normal cycling patterns.


This multi-mechanism approach — addressing both the androgenic pathway and the inflammatory pathway, while supporting dermal papilla inductivity — is what distinguishes exosome-based scalp therapy from conventional single-mechanism treatments.


Integrating P198 ExoNature™ Recore Into Your Clinical Protocol


P198 ExoNature™ Recore is designed as a non-invasive treatment that integrates naturally into existing scalp and hair aesthetic procedures.


Here is how to incorporate it effectively:


  1. Patient assessment and trichoscopy

Confirm AGA diagnosis and assess degree of follicle miniaturisation. Establish baseline photography for outcome tracking. ExoNature™ Recore is appropriate for early to moderate AGA where follicular activity remains present.

Cleanse the scalp thoroughly to remove sebum, product residue, and debris. A clean scalp surface optimises absorption and ensures the bioactive ingredients reach the follicular environment effectively.

P198 ExoNature™ Recore can be applied as part of microneedling, laser, or other energy-based scalp procedures to maximise dermal penetration. The non-invasive format also supports standalone topical application protocols.

For clinical results, a course of treatments is recommended — typically 4–6 sessions spaced 2–4 weeks apart, followed by maintenance sessions every 2–3 months. Consistent treatment supports cumulative follicle regeneration over time.

Educate patients on the progressive nature of AGA and the importance of consistent treatment. ExoNature™ Recore can complement — not replace — any ongoing pharmacological management the patient is pursuing under medical supervision.


Which Patients Are Suitable?


P198 ExoNature™ Recore is appropriate for a broad patient population presenting with scalp and hair concerns:




The Opportunity for Aesthetic Clinics


Hair restoration is one of the fastest-growing segments in aesthetic medicine. Patients who have historically been told their only options are daily medication or surgery are increasingly open to in-clinic regenerative treatments — particularly those backed by credible science and free from systemic side effects.


P198 ExoNature™ Recore positions your clinic to capture this demand with a treatment that is scientifically grounded, non-invasive, and suitable for a wide patient demographic. It requires no specialist hair transplant infrastructure — it integrates into the same consultation rooms and treatment protocols you already operate.


For clinics already offering P198 ExoHealer™ for skin rejuvenation, ExoNature™ Recore extends the P198 ecosystem into scalp health — allowing you to offer a unified, evidence-based regenerative platform across both skin and hair concerns.




Clinical data and mechanisms cited are based on published peer-reviewed literature. References include: Park GH et al., J Med Food 2015; 18(3):354–62; Cho EG et al., Cells 2021, 10, 486; Truong VL & Jeong WS, Prev Nutr Food Sci 2021; 26(3):275–84; and associated literature on exosome biology in hair follicle physiology. P198 ExoNature™ Recore peptide activity claims are limited to raw material characteristics. This article is intended for healthcare professionals and is not a substitute for clinical judgement. References available on request.

 
 
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