I am always looking for ways to grow thicker, healthier hair. On top of dermarolling my hairline and wearing red-light hats, there’s one skin-care ingredient that’s quietly making the crossover to hair care that I can’t stop thinking about: exosomes.
One of the buzziest regenerative skin-care ingredients, exosomes are what Ronda Farah, MD, associate professor in the department of dermatology at the University of Minnesota, describes as “communication vehicles” in our bodies. “They are similar to tiny cars delivering messages between cells,” Farah says. “Exosomes can contain proteins, DNA, RNA, and other signaling molecules that may influence how cells behave.”
Vogue’s Favorite Exosomes for Hair Growth
And if something can help with our skin health, then it must also be good for our hair. Hair care is skin care, after all, and when you take care of your scalp, you give your hair the healthiest environment to thrive. At least that’s the train of thought when it comes to exosome hair therapy. “The buzz with exosomes is that it carries a much larger and more potent payload,” says Raphael Gonzalez, PhD, scientific adviser at Exora. “This means that payload can be multiple factors that can serve the hair well.”
Gonzalez says to look at exosomes for hair growth like this: When you have a stomachache, you’re probably going to take something that works on a different number of symptoms such as cramping, bloating, etc. Exosomes do a similar thing, where it provides structural support, increases blood flow, reduces inflammation, and supports healthy hair growth. Farah adds that these hair products are typically made from human or plant sources and oftentimes mixed with other ingredients that also benefit hair.
But as with anything that sounds too good to be true, experts say there is still so much to be studied when it comes to exosome therapy for hair. Marisa Garshick, MD, board-certified dermatologist at MDCS Dermatology, adds that it is not yet standardized, so quality, sourcing, and treatment protocols can vary significantly, while Farah emphasizes that there is currently no FDA-approved exosome product for the treatment of hair loss.
It’s always best to consult with your primary-care physician or a board-certified dermatologist when it comes to anything hair-loss related. Depending on the type of hair loss you’re experiencing, some other treatments might be better for you. But with that said, if exosomes for hair has piqued your interest, here are four serums worth checking out.
