A research team led by Professor Lee Hae-shin from the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) has discovered that tannic acid, a type of natural polyphenol, acts not only as a simple coating agent but also as an 'adhesion mediator' that alleviates hair loss. The research results were published in the international journal 'Advanced Materials Interfaces' on Jan. 6.
Hair loss is a problem affecting hundreds of millions of people worldwide, driven by a combination of genetic, hormonal, and environmental factors. Many people experience stress due to the lack of effective treatment options.
Minoxidil and finasteride, the leading hair loss treatments, show certain effectiveness but require long-term use. Moreover, their efficacy varies according to individual constitutions, and some users experience side effects.
Professor Lee's research team has demonstrated that tannic acid can strongly bind with keratin, the main protein in hair, allowing it to adhere continuously to the hair surface. They also revealed that this could enable the controlled release of specific functional ingredients.
The research team developed a combination containing hair loss alleviating functional ingredients such as salicylic acid (SCA), niacinamide (N), and dexpanthenol (DAL), naming it SCANDAL. The SCANDAL complex, combined with tannic acid, gradually releases upon contact with moisture and is delivered to hair follicles along the hair surface.
Goodmona Clinic applied the shampoo containing this complex to 12 patients with hair loss for seven days, and significant hair loss reduction effects were observed in all clinical subjects. The experimental results showed an average reduction of 56.2% in hair shedding, with cases exhibiting a decrease of up to 90.2% also confirmed. This suggests that the way tannic acid stably maintains the SCANDAL components on the hair surface and gradually releases them to the follicles could be effective for alleviating hair loss.
Professor Lee noted, 'Tannic acid, a type of natural polyphenol, has a powerful antioxidant effect and a property of strongly binding with proteins, which successfully proves its ability to act as a bioadhesive.'
Professor Lee applied this technology to the 'Grabity' shampoo developed through the faculty startup company Polyphenol Factory. He said, 'We are also striving to commercialize products based on diverse research results, such as shampoos that dramatically increase the strength of fine, breaking hair and products that straighten curly hair.'
Reference materials
Advanced Materials Interfaces (2025), DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/admi.202400851