sh-Polypeptide-7 for Hair Regrowth - Quick Reference Sheet
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sh-Polypeptide-7 for Hair Regrowth

Created on 09/28/2026 – Quick Reference based on Evidence Review created using AI4L / Opus 5.5 – Audit

sh-Polypeptide-7, a lab-made copy of human growth hormone sold as a cosmetic ingredient in scalp serums for thinning hair, is, for hair-focused adults willing to invest effort, an add-on whose benefit has not been shown apart from the products and procedures it comes with. Its only hair results come from small seller-linked studies without comparison groups. Known harms relate mostly to the delivery procedures: brief pain, redness, and minor bleeding. (Full Review)

Protocol

Home serum (KeraFactor-type)
1 full dropper, once daily
Massaged in, not rinsed; patent range 0.00043–0.00243% by product weight
Laser-assisted in-office protocol (KeraLase)
3 sessions, 4 weeks apart
1927-nm fractional thulium laser followed immediately by sterile serum
Hydradermabrasion protocol (HydraScalp with Keravive)
3 monthly sessions
In-office suction-infusion sessions plus a daily take-home peptide spray
Time to effect
Hair density and shaft diameter
12–24 weeks
Judgments before 12 weeks rest on little information
Sponsor-reported fullness
After the first session
Likely cosmetic hair-shaft effects before any regrowth
Less scalp itch, dryness, and flaking
After the first session
Sponsor's study without a comparison group; direction only

Benefits

Contraindications
  • Pregnant or breastfeeding individuals
  • Active malignancy or any cancer diagnosis
  • Acromegaly (adult growth hormone excess) or IGF-1 (insulin-like growth factor 1) above the age-adjusted upper limit
  • Active scalp infection, open wounds, or a psoriasis or dermatitis flare in the treatment area
  • Isotretinoin use within the past 6 months (laser- or needle-assisted protocols)
  • Topical retinoids (vitamin A–derived skin drugs; tretinoin) with laser or microneedling (relative contraindication)
  • Known hypersensitivity to any serum component
  • Athletes under WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency) testing
  • Individuals under 18 years
    •
Key Interactions
  • Injected growth hormone or secretagogues (drugs that trigger natural growth hormone release; somatropin, tesamorelin, sermorelin, ibutamoren): caution
  • Anticoagulants and antiplatelet drugs (blood thinners; warfarin, apixaban, clopidogrel): caution with needle- or laser-assisted delivery
  • Photosensitizing drugs (drugs that make skin more sensitive to light; doxycycline, hydrochlorothiazide) with laser or red-light protocols: monitor
  • Topical minoxidil (over-the-counter): monitor
  • Aspirin and NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs; ibuprofen, naproxen): monitor with needle-assisted delivery
  • Blood-thinning supplements (fish oil, vitamin E, ginkgo): monitor with needle-assisted delivery
  • Growth hormone–releasing supplements (arginine, ornithine, GABA [gamma-aminobutyric acid]): monitor
  • Other peptide or growth factor serums (copper peptides, sh-Polypeptide-9): monitor
  • Other interventions (low-level light therapy, PRP [platelet-rich plasma], microneedling): monitor
    •

Risk & Side Effects

  • High:
  • Medium:
  • Low: Procedure-related scalp pain, redness, and pinpoint bleeding; systemic growth hormone effects if absorbed
    •
  • Speculative: Premature hair-cycle regression and shedding; follicle stem cell ageing from chronic IGF-1 excess; sensitization to a recombinant protein
    •

Monitoring

Marker Target Why
Hair density (hairs/cm²) No established target; track change from own baseline Primary regrowth readout
Hair shaft diameter (µm) No established target; track change from own baseline Detects thickening of miniaturized hairs
Ferritin 50–100 ng/mL Iron deficiency drives shedding
TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone) 0.5–2.5 mIU/L Thyroid dysfunction causes diffuse loss
25-hydroxyvitamin D 40–60 ng/mL Deficiency is linked to hair loss
IGF-1 No hair-specific target; middle of the age-adjusted range Optional; where growth hormone excess or deficiency is suspected
CBC (complete blood count) No target stated Paired with ferritin
C-reactive protein No target stated Inflammation raises ferritin
Free thyroxine No target stated Paired with TSH

Cadence: Baseline; photographs and trichoscopy (magnified scalp imaging) at 12 and 24 weeks, then every 6 months; blood tests every 6–12 months, or sooner if shedding increases

Qualitative Assessment

  • Less hair on the pillow, brush, and shower drain
  • Visibly fuller part line or crown in matched photographs
  • Hair that feels thicker between the fingers
  • Absence of scalp itching, stinging, or redness after application
  • Fewer flakes and less scalp dryness
Not medical advice. Educational distillation of a single evidence review. Confirm any decision with a qualified clinician, especially in the presence of prescription drugs or chronic conditions.