Genetics and hormones
Follicle sensitivity matters
Pattern hair loss affects both men and women. It is not simply a matter of having too much androgen: follicle sensitivity and genetic background also matter. [1]
THE SCALP LONGEVITY UNIVERSE
Research & technology support
The science of scalp longevity
Hair loss can look similar while having different causes. Understanding what is happening at the scalp is the starting point for our formulation choices.
Research & technology support
FOUR CONNECTED DIRECTIONS
A connected formula
Hairlines, partings, the crown—these concerns are shared. TIPTOP CARE is designed for women and men, bringing four connected research directions into its approach to scalp care.
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TIPTOP CAREScalp longevityA multi-ingredient approach
The four segments represent research directions, not the proportion of hair-loss causes or product effects.
Follicle signals
Interactions between androgens and their receptors help explain some forms of hair loss. Our formulation research examines these local signals and where they act to guide ingredient selection.
Root environment
A follicle does not work alone. Local nutrient delivery, cellular energy metabolism and supporting tissue all shape its environment. These connections guide our approach to a multi-ingredient formula.
Scalp ecosystem
The scalp is home to many microorganisms. We study their relationship with the scalp barrier, including the potential of microbial extracellular vesicles—tiny particles released by cells—in scalp care.
DNA-based care
Sodium DNA is a focus of our nucleic-acid ingredient research, including material specifications, stability and compatibility. Translating research into daily care also means studying application and the finished formula.
These are formulation research directions. Medical treatment and daily scalp care have different roles; ingredient mechanisms do not establish that a finished product treats every form of hair loss.
A DIFFERENT START
Hesitating over shedding?
You want to care for your scalp, but the thought of shedding more at the start can hold you back. We made that concern a priority in developing TIPTOP CARE.
Daily 01 / Weekly 07 · Internal human-use testing
No initial shedding
No initial surge in shedding was observed
2 weeksA noticeable reduction in shedding was observed
These are internal development-stage observations for Daily 01 and Weekly 07. Individual results vary. “No initial shedding” means no initial surge was observed in testing, not the absence of normal daily shedding.
See results and scopeAlcohol-free
No added ethanol across the range
One less potential irritant
From cleanser to essences, we leave out ethanol—one potential source of dryness and stinging. If ethanol-containing products tend to make your scalp uncomfortable, that is one less concern in your daily routine.
Alcohol-free means no added ethanol. Comfort and tolerance vary from person to person.
Why it matters for your scalpA clearer choice, a routine of your own
Find your routineSL-04 · DNA SODIUM
Sodium DNA & scalp care
Understanding Sodium DNA
Sodium DNA is the sodium salt of DNA. PDRN stands for polydeoxyribonucleotide, a term commonly used for DNA-derived materials with a defined distribution of fragment sizes.
What we explore
We explore the potential of nucleic acid–related ingredients for scalp conditioning, alongside their stability, compatibility and delivery within a formula. PDRN research includes adenosine A2A receptor signalling and nucleotide salvage pathways. These form part of the research background for the TIPTOP CARE range.
From research to daily care
Fragment-size range, purity, source, concentration and method of use all influence how a material performs. TIPTOP CARE will establish the final molecular specifications and efficacy based on the final ingredient specifications and formulation documentation.
The Sodium DNA content on this page is an ingredient preview. Final ingredient identity and formulation will be confirmed on the official product label.
FROM RESEARCH TO DAILY CARE
From research to daily care
Medical research offers inspiration. Bringing it into everyday care requires ingredient selection, formulation development, container design and finished-product evaluation.
Study the tissue environment
Research into organ regeneration, cells and extracellular vesicles provides scientific context for understanding the tissue environment.
Select and study ingredients
We examine ingredient identity, purity and stability alongside freeze-dried preservation, two-part preparation and compatibility within a formula. Together, these guide development.
Design for daily care
With Japanese precision as a product-development direction, we arrange cleansing, daily care and intensive care into a rhythm that is easy to understand.
Examine the finished-product evidence
Review safety and evaluation results for the specific formulation, sample and conditions of use, and continue updating the corresponding finished-product materials.
Medical papers, clinical trials and regulatory records relate to their respective research projects. They do not confer drug approval or therapeutic effects on TIPTOP CARE preview products. Scalp longevity is a care philosophy, not a promise to extend human lifespan.
View tiptop's public science indexPOWERED BY tiptop · ATDS
The science of delivery
Developed and published by tiptop, ATDS is a technology white paper and evidence framework for delivery in consumer anti-aging care. Its research scope includes intact skin and non-invasive scalp care.
Read the tiptop delivery research white paperIs the ingredient clearly identified?
Trace the source, composition, particle or molecular specifications and quality of each batch.
Can the formula release it?
Study release, distribution and intended destination using the full formula, applicator and actual conditions of use.
Is the finished product tested?
Human evaluation and safety data must correspond to the specific product, study period and measurement conditions.
ATDS is a company technology white paper, not government approval, international standards certification or third-party certification. Delivery performance in this collection remains subject to evidence for each specific formulation.
Care with comfort in mind
Daily scalp care should feel considered, down to how it feels on your skin. Across TIPTOP CARE, we leave out ethanol and consider everyday comfort alongside how ingredients work within the formula.
One less potential irritant
Ethanol can contribute to dryness or stinging for some people. Leaving it out removes this potential irritant from the formula—a relevant choice if ethanol-containing products tend to feel uncomfortable.
One less daily concern
Worrying about dryness or stinging can make a routine harder to keep. Comfort is an important part of our formulation approach, because a daily ritual should be one you want to return to.
A formula for its ingredients
How an ingredient performs depends on the formula around it. Within an ethanol-free approach, we study stability, compatibility and delivery—how ingredients reach the scalp in a suitable form.
What the research shows
Dryness and irritation
The UK product information for Regaine scalp foam warns that its ethanol may cause burning on damaged skin. This identifies one possible source of irritation; it does not mean every ethanol-containing formula irritates the scalp. [10]
In a 30-day randomized double-blind study enrolling 100 men, a modified minoxidil formula improved scalp hydration and redness. The study compared whole formulas, so the findings cannot be attributed to ethanol alone; hair-growth efficacy was not assessed. A correction changed the test formula’s “2% ethanol” to “2% benzyl alcohol”—a different ingredient. [11] [13]
Delivery depends on the formula
In a 2025 study using excised pig skin, model compounds penetrated intact skin more effectively from a particular cream without ethanol. The experiment used tracer compounds to study delivery. It shows that the vehicle can matter; it is not a human scalp absorption result for TIPTOP CARE. [12]
Other research in excised human skin found that ethanol-containing vehicles improved minoxidil deposition in the outer skin layer and appendages at some time points. Alcohol-free alone therefore does not establish better absorption; delivery and efficacy must be evaluated for the actual finished formula. [9]
Alcohol-free means no added ethanol. Comfort and tolerance vary from person to person.
EVIDENCE, IN CONTEXT
Research & references
Understand what was studied and under which conditions before drawing conclusions. Ingredient research and finished-product evaluations will be added here as they become available.
Technical research · October 2026
Research approaches to scalp signals, the follicular environment and the microbiome. Public pages use scalp longevity research codes; final ingredient labels will be published separately.
Published PDRN research
Published research in female-pattern hair loss used perifollicular injections and included a platelet-rich plasma combination. That route of administration differs from the topical care presented on this website.
Read the original research abstractProduct testing & evaluation
SGS testing materials are in preparation. Reports, test parameters and results for the relevant products will be published together when available for public release.
View evidence & resultsResearch and expert resources
- 01British Association of Dermatologists · Pattern hair loss
- 02British Association of Dermatologists · Telogen effluvium
- 03US National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases · Alopecia areata
- 04American Academy of Dermatology · Hair loss causes
- 05Wang et al. · Six-city prevalence study, 2010
- 06DailyMed drug-label database · Minoxidil topical solution
- 07Pinto et al. · Scalp microbiome, 2019
- 08Microbial extracellular vesicles · Hair-follicle cell research, 2022
- 09Grice et al. · Vehicle effects on minoxidil skin deposition, 2010
- 10UK emc · Regaine scalp foam product information
- 11Sarkar et al. · Scalp tolerability of minoxidil formulations, 2020
- 12Raab et al. · Ethanol and model-compound penetration in excised skin, 2025
- 13Sarkar et al. · Formal correction to the 2020 study
Independent sources explain hair-loss and ingredient research; they do not endorse TIPTOP CARE product results. Microbiome associations and cell experiments do not establish human-use outcomes.