Sodium PCA Benefits for Treating Hair Loss

If you suffer from hair loss, you're not alone. Millions of men and women in America wake up every day feeling self-conscious about their hair and the way they look. While you may find countless products for combating hair loss, not all are effective. However, sodium PCA has been clinically proven to fight poor scalp health and excessive hair loss – which points to Divi’s Scalp Serum as an effective product for promoting hair growth.

Divi believes in using clean, scientifically backed ingredients to treat hair and scalp problems. When you have thick, full hair, you don't just look good – you feel good, too. That's why we developed Divi’s Scalp Serum using the best ingredients backed by science, including sodium PCA.

Now, join us as we take a deep dive into the benefits of sodium PCA for hair loss and how you can use this clean ingredient to fight the symptoms of itching, eczema, dry scalp, dermatitis and more.

What is Sodium PCA?

Sodium PCA is a naturally occurring amino acid found in all living cells. It comprises approximately 12% of your skin's natural moisturizing factor, which is a group of compounds keeping your skin soft and supple. Specifically, sodium PCA is the salt form of 2-pyrrolidone-5-carboxylic acid (PCA), also known as pyroglutamic acid or proline. As we age, our levels of sodium drop and we start to lose the hydration benefits this compound offers.

The primary benefit of sodium PCA is as an emollient or humectant because it can hold up to 250 times its weight in water. It also maximizes hydration by attracting moisture and binding it to the body's cells. Plus, sodium PCA supports skin and scalp health by naturally restoring the protective skin barrier and providing anti-inflammatory, antifungal and antimicrobial properties.

Sodium PCA is safe for hair, scalp and all skin types. Because it has these anti-inflammatory benefits, people with skin sensitivity can also use it. It's a common ingredient in beauty, cosmetics and skincare products due to its non-toxicity and numerous benefits.

Causes of Hair Loss in Men and Women

By 50, about half of all men and a quarter of all women will suffer from hair loss and thinning. Genetic predisposition is the most common cause of hair loss – otherwise known as androgenetic alopecia (male-pattern baldness or female-pattern hair loss). Although age-related hair loss is common to both genders, there are many gender-specific reasons why men and women lose their hair.

Why Men Suffer from Hair Loss and Thinning

Men primarily lose their hair due to aging and male-pattern baldness. As men age, their hormones change and cause their hair follicles to shrink. It starts around the hairline and temples but eventually spreads further.

Man Applying Divi's Scalp Serum

While genetics is the number one factor contributing to hair thinning and baldness in men, it's not the only cause. For example, protein or iron deficiencies, anemia, and thyroid problems can also cause male hair loss. Other contributing factors include a poor diet, drug use, stress and an unhealthy lifestyle. Furthermore, certain health conditions can result in a dry, itchy scalp caused by eczema, dermatitis or psoriasis.

Why Women Suffer From Hair Loss and Thinning

Just like men, women are most likely to lose their hair due to androgenetic alopecia and aging. However, many gender-specific factors contribute to female hair loss. For example, some women are more likely than others to suffer from shedding and thinning hair. These risk factors include:

Using harsh dyes, chemicals or processing
Chronic high-heat application (straightening, curling, etc.)
Wearing pulled-back, overly tight hairstyles
Taking certain medications
Undergoing chemotherapy or radiation
Experiencing menopause
Crash-dieting or rapid weight loss
Thyroid abnormalities
Extreme stress
Hormonal changes/fluctuations

Sodium PCA Benefits for Treating Hair Loss Symptoms and Promoting Scalp Health

Now that we've talked a bit about the causes of hair loss and sodium PCA, it's time to explore the benefits of sodium PCA for treating hair loss and scalp conditions.

Itchy, Flaky Scalp

Is there anything worse than looking in the mirror and seeing flakes of dandruff in your hair and coating your shoulders? Not only can it feel embarrassing, but there’s a persistent and irritating urge to scratch your dry, flaky scalp. As a humectant and emollient, sodium PCA can help relieve these symptoms. The structure of sodium PCA attracts moisture and water vapor from the air and absorbs it into the skin, where it remains in the protective barrier and supports healthy function by ensuring that the cells remain linked together.

For example, we reviewed an eight-year study evaluating sodium PCA's efficacy as a hydrating agent. Researchers determined that cosmetic products containing at least a 2% PCA salt system significantly improved the skin's hydration and relieved symptoms of dry skin in both the short and long term.

So, if you have an itchy, dry or flaky scalp, sodium PCA can help you tackle those symptoms by improving your scalp's ability to retain moisture and supporting the healthy function of the skin's protective barrier.

Another study found a significant relationship between sodium PCA and its ability to bind moisture to the skin. Researchers found that using a topical cream containing 5% sodium PCA increased the skin's capacity for retaining moisture compared to a control group that didn't use sodium PCA. Likewise, the study proved sodium PCA is an effective humectant and can significantly reduce the symptoms of dry, flaky skin.

Eczema

Eczema is a common skin condition that can cause dry, flaky, red and scaly patches of skin. Although it can occur almost anywhere on the body, the most common form of scalp eczema is seborrheic eczema or dermatitis. Seborrheic eczema can cause dandruff, along with red, inflamed patches on the scalp, whereas common dandruff does not.

Fortunately, sodium PCA can treat the symptoms of scalp eczema by acting as a humectant and providing anti-inflammatory properties. In one study, researchers examined whether certain topical anti-inflammatories could effectively relieve the symptoms of mild to severe eczema in 25 participants.

After using a moisturizer containing sodium PCA and other ingredients for two weeks, the researchers discovered a significant improvement in many symptoms of the participants’ eczema, including:

Dryness
Irritation
Red patches
Skin shedding
Roughness
Itching
Inflamed skin
Lichenification (hard, thick skin)

Finally, the subjects had a 79% reduction in itching and experienced a 44% increase in skin hydration. In conclusion, sodium PCA is an effective way to treat scalp eczema and promote optimal skin health.

Color Retention

Excessive heat, overprocessing, and the use of harsh dyes, bleach, or chemicals can cause severe damage to your hair by weakening the follicle structure and creating dry, brittle strands prone to splitting. So how can sodium PCA benefits for treating hair loss address these issues?

The answer is shown in another study. Researchers examined the interactions of amino acids and sodium PCA on dyed and bleached hair, including its ability to hydrate and improve color retention.

The researchers took swatches of heavily bleached and dyed female human hair and soaked them in a solution of amino acids, sodium PCA, and arginine. After testing the hair, they discovered that mixing sodium PCA and arginine increased the affinity and uptake compared to using the ingredients separately. (Note: Divi’s Scalp Serum contains both sodium PCA and arginine.)

Next, the scientists found that using a solution of PCA and arginine caused an "impressive difference" in the ability to improve hair color retention, even after several bleachings. Finally, they tested a solution of sodium PCA on the hair and learned that color development and retention were significantly improved. As an added bonus, sodium PCA caused the hair to develop a distinctly brighter and more vibrant shade of color.

Provides Anti-Inflammatory and Antifungal Properties

More sodium PCA benefits for treating hair loss include anti-inflammatory, antifungal and antimicrobial properties. Men and women with sensitive skin on their scalp, inflamed, irritated skin, or susceptibility to fungal infections can relieve those symptoms by using a topical serum containing sodium PCA.

For example, researchers found that a bacteria (Burkholderia sp. HD05) with the active ingredient of 2-pyrrolidone-5-carboxylic acid (PCA, a derivative of glutamic acid) had impressive antifungal properties and successfully inhibited fungal growth, progression and infection rates. Another study discovered that 2-pyrrolidone-5-carboxylic acid has effective and wide-ranging antimicrobial properties.

We already told you sodium PCA has anti-inflammatory properties and can keep your skin's protective barrier strong and healthy. Therefore, it may combat conditions related to poor scalp and follicular health, including redness, swelling, irritation and susceptibility to infections.

How To Use the Sodium PCA in Divi’s Scalp Serum to Combat Hair Loss Symptoms

Now that you are aware of the benefits of sodium PCA for treating hair loss, we'll tell you one of the best ways to use this naturally occurring ingredient. Divi’s Scalp Serum is vegan-friendly and lightweight, so it won't leave a greasy residue on your hair. It's also cruelty-free and doesn't contain parabens, alcohols or sulfates.

We know adding another product to your beauty and skin care regimen can be a pain, but our Scalp Serum is easy to use and requires less effort than many products. You apply it only once per day using these simple steps:

Fill up ¾ of the dropper with Divi’s Scalp Serum.
Apply it to trouble areas or your entire scalp.
No need to rinse; just go about your day!

Additional Benefits of Using Sodium PCA and Divi’s Scalp Serum for Optimal Hair and Scalp Health

In addition to the excellent benefits sodium PCA provides to your hair and scalp, Divi’s Scalp Serum was developed to help you fight against the symptoms of hair loss and thinning. Our product is clinically proven to be safe and effective at treating your hair problems, including excessive hair fall, thinning strands and poor scalp health. When you use Divi’s Scalp Serum, you can expect to see noticeable results, including:

Increased hair count and weight
Fuller, thicker hair
Healthy scalp and skin
Less hair fall and shedding
Soft, hydrated hair
Strong, smooth strands
Optimal follicular health
Shiny, vibrant hair
Better color retention

Sodium PCA and Divi’s Scalp Serum: Combat Hair Loss and Promote a Healthy Scalp

Why suffer from the poor self-esteem and lack of confidence that come with hair loss, thinning and scalp conditions like eczema and dandruff? Instead, consider the benefits of sodium PCA for hair and scalp health and how its role in Divi’s Scalp Serum can help you reverse those symptoms.

Sodium PCA is a safe and effective humectant, providing your skin with maximum hydration, improving color retention in your hair and reducing the severity of dry, flaky skin and conditions like eczema and dandruff. Order your bottle of Divi’s Scalp Serum today and see for yourself how much our formula can do for your hair!