| abstract |
A composition suitable for topical application to mammalian skin or hair for inducing, maintaining or increasing hair growth comprises: (i) a first chemical inhibitor chosen from proteoglycanase inhibitors, glycosaminoglycanase inhibitors, glycosaminoglycan chain cellular uptake inhibitors or mixtures thereof; and (ii) a cosmetically acceptable vehicle for the chemical inhibitor; provided that when the first chemical inhibitor is a weak inhibitor, such that a 1mM aqueous solution of the inhibitor reduces proteoglycanase activity, glycosaminoglycanase activity or cellular uptake of glycosaminoglycan chains, by from 5 to 50%, in accordance with at least one of the assay tests as herein described, then there is also present in the composition a second chemical inhibitor and/or an activity enhancer. When minoxidil is the sole chemical inhibitor, then the activity enhancer is a penetration enhancer chosen from a limited number of materials, including certain esters and cationic polymers. |