Hair loss products full steam ahead

In the medical product pavilion at China International Import Expo held in Shanghai recently, products that help hair grow were one of the solutions that attracted high visitor traffic, among the hundreds of innovative technologies unveiled by multinational companies.

Exhibitors said medical professionals and industry buyers showed interest beyond their expectations in such products as an increasing number of Chinese have been bothered by hair loss.

Experts say hair loss is caused by genetic factors and external reasons, including staying up late, stress, poor sleep quality, excessive mental work, smoking and a high-calorie diet.

A report released last year by the Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, showed that the number of Chinese people troubled by hair loss was rising, and at a younger age. About 56 percent of women and 48 percent of men suffered from persistent hair loss.

Regro, a medicine for external use for people troubled by hair loss, made its China debut at the booth of biopharmaceutical company Teva.

Regro contains minoxidil, a medication for treating hair loss. The company said the product is expected to help enrich options for hair loss sufferers on the Chinese mainland.

Linda Pang, head of commercial at Teva Greater China, said that Regro is a leading brand in this field and a word-of-mouth product that has been proven in some markets overseas, including Europe and the United States.

"The product is expected to be available to Chinese consumers on cross-border e-commerce platforms soon," said Pang.

However, individuals suffering from hair loss are recommended to adjust their lifestyles, including coping with stress, managing emotions, sleeping better, and eating a healthy diet. "Based on that, using a suitable product may help them get twice the result with half the effort," she said.

Bayer presented Kangwang Minoxidil Liniment, a medical product applied on scalps to treat hair loss and help hair grow, at this year's CIIE for the first time. The product that has been marketed in China since June contains minoxidil as well.

Zhang Liang, a category innovation manager at Bayer Consumer Health, said the ingredient works by activating atrophic hair follicles and improving blood and oxygen supply to hair follicles, and thereby stimulating growth of new hair.

"Visitors, including some offline retail pharmacies, at CIIE expressed extraordinary interest in the product, which is sold only on e-commerce platforms currently," he said.

Local brand Kangwang joined Bayer in 2014.

When the liniment product reaches a certain level of maturity in the China market, the company will take it global, Zhang said.

Some buyers said that they were also interested in products that help tackle insomnia and improve memory, as a rising number of young and middle-aged people pay attention to anti-aging and maintaining good health.

Herbalife, a Los Angeles-based health and wellness company, added a section at its CIIE booth this year, exhibiting products that help boost immunity and improve sleep quality and brain health. Many of them are not marketed in China yet.

Among these was a health drink, whose main ingredients include red ginseng extract. The product for immunity enhancement entered the China market earlier this year and marked its first presence at the CIIE.