title: Efficacy of a new tonic containing urea, lactate, polidocanol, and glycyrrhiza inflata root extract in the treatment of a dry, itchy, and subclinically inflamed scalp.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Dry, itchy and inflamed scalp conditions are common and often associated with diseases such as atopic dermatitis or psoriasis. To improve these symptoms, we investigated the efficacy of a new tonic containing the active ingredients urea, lactate, polidocanol, and Glycyrrhiza inflata root extract, containing licochalcone A.
  
  
  METHODS
  30 subjects with dry and itchy scalp conditions underwent a randomized half-head study for 4 weeks, applying the leave-on tonic three times a week on one side of the scalp. Tonic effects on skin hydration, itching, lipids, microinflammation, and substantivity of tonic compounds were determined using corneometry, middle-infrared spectroscopy, direct analysis in real-time mass spectrometry, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Volunteers performed a self-assessment; changes in scalp condition were documented by in vivo microscopy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After tonic treatment, scalp moisture was significantly increased, whereas scalp itching and tautness were significantly reduced. Results also demonstrated a high substantivity of urea and lactate on the scalp, an increase in triglyceride, and a decrease in free fatty acid levels. The amount of total lipids was unchanged. Analyses of scalp wash-ups verified a significant reduction in important pro-inflammatory markers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Due to the actives urea, lactate, polidocanol, and the anti-inflammatory licochalcone A, the new scalp tonic exhibited excellent performance in alleviating scalp dryness, itching, microinflammation, and in normalizing disturbances of scalp lipids.
authors.affiliation: Research and Development, Beiersdorf AG, Hamburg, Germany. dorothea.schweiger @ beiersdorf.com
authors.forename: Dorothea
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Schweiger
authors.forename: Caroline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Baufeld
authors.forename: Philip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Drescher
authors.forename: Bernhardt
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Oltrogge
authors.forename: Simone
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Höpfner
authors.forename: Aylin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mess
authors.forename: Juliane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lüttke
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Rippke
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Filbry
authors.forename: Heiner
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Max
mesh_terms: D047188:Chalcones / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D006035:Glycyrrhiza; D006801:Humans; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D050356:Lipid Metabolism; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage; D018517:Plant Roots; D000077423:Polidocanol; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011537:Pruritus / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012535:Scalp / Q000378:metabolism; D012536:Scalp Dermatoses / Q000188:drug therapy*; D014508:Urea / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D047188:Chalcones; D016207:Cytokines; D010936:Plant Extracts; D000077423:Polidocanol; D019344:Lactic Acid; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D014508:Urea; C070840:licochalcone A