View Full Version : Papaya or papain in hair care products
Gwynalah
June 7th, 2010, 10:35 AM
Hi all,
Are there any armchair (or real) chemists out there who can tell me whether papaya is a good ingredient for daily shampoo? I've been using Lush Curly Wurly shampoo for about a month and love how soft it makes my hair, but a friend told me that papaya (a main ingredient in the shampoo) is used in the form of papain as a meat tenderizer. In other words, papaya breaks down protein somehow. So, is is actually good to use something with papaya on my hair if I am trying to grow it out? Or does it not really "break down" proteins, but otherwise alter them somehow?
Anje
June 7th, 2010, 11:59 AM
Papain (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Papain) is a cysteine protease, meaning that it breaks down proteins by attacking the amino acid cysteine. I don't really know how concentrated it would be in haircare products, but given that hair (keratin) contains a lot of cysteine, I would avoid using products with it regularly. It might weaken hair over time, and if your hair has to stick around for several years to maintain the length you want, extra weakening is probably a bad idea.
It's really easy to speculate that the stuff makes hair softer by breaking it down a bit. I doubt that's really the case, but the idea suggests itself readily enough to mention.
SHELIAANN1969
June 7th, 2010, 01:20 PM
OT but I have some Papaya enzyme chewable tablets, they are really tasty, you're supposed to have a couple with each meal. One day I was hungry and ate about 10...needless to say, it wasn't a good idea and I will NOT be doing that again. :rollin: @ my crazy self!
May
June 7th, 2010, 04:46 PM
I've seen a few hair removing and hair minimizing lotions containing Papain, an enzyme derived from the unripe Papaya fruit. Apparently it helps to inhibit hair growth at the follicle...hmmm, I'm wondering why it would be an ingredient in ANY shampoo? I'm guessing that the Papain in the specific concentrations and ratio in your shampoo is having little to no effect on inhibiting hair growth. Perhaps the Papain has been removed leaving the benefits of Papaya minus the negative hair effects that Papain would have in greater concentrations?
Chestershire
June 12th, 2010, 02:25 AM
wow, I'm so glad I didn't buy Freeman's papaya shampoo then!
ktani
June 12th, 2010, 07:31 AM
I have always avoided a product containing it because of that reason (breaking down protein) although I agree that the amount in a product makes the difference to effect.
This is most interesting.
"Action by the FDA to restrict marketing of all topical drug products containing papain
On September 23, 2008, the FDA warned companies to stop marketing topical drug products containing papain by November 4, 2008 The FDA said, "Papain-containing drug products in topical form historically have been marketed without approval...". According to the FDA's statement on the subject, "These unapproved products have put consumers' health in jeopardy, from reports of permanent vision loss with unapproved balanced salt solutions to a serious drop in blood pressure and increased heart rate from the topical papain products," said Janet Woodcock, M.D., director for the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. In the same FDA announcement, the FDA states the following:
About Unapproved Topical Papain Products: Topical drug ointments containing papain are used to remove dead or contaminated tissue in acute and chronic lesions, such as diabetic ulcers, pressure ulcers, varicose ulcers, and traumatic infected wounds. ...The FDA is taking action today against these products because it has received reports of serious adverse events in patients using products containing papain. In addition, patients who are allergic to latex can also be allergic to papaya, the source of papain. ... FDA urges consumers who are using topical drug products containing papain, and who have questions or concerns, to contact their health care provider about discontinuing treatment with these products. ..."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Papain
2009
Questions and Answers about FDA's Enforcement Action Regarding Unapproved Topical Drug Products Containing Papain
http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/GuidanceComplianceRegulatoryInformation/EnforcementActivitiesbyFDA/SelectedEnforcementActionsonUnapprovedDrugs/ucm119646.htm
Silver Strands
June 12th, 2010, 08:32 AM
I'm so glad you started this thread because I thought of starting one myself after buying the Freeman Papaya and Lime Shine Conditioner to CO wash with.
I noticed quite a bit of shedding while using it the 1 time I did and thought that was odd for me since I shed very little during CO washes.
I put it down to early summertime shedding but then I googled papaya and came up with hair removal creams containing papaya. Apparently it removes hair and age spots so it must work pretty well.
I haven't used it since.
I'm glad ktani responded to this thread as I was going to request her input if I started a thread about it.
ETA: I will be subscribing to this thread to keep up with any new info.
ButterCream
June 12th, 2010, 08:53 AM
So since this is an enzyme that breaks down protein, it would be AWESOME as a remover for protein buildup then?!
Or...??
Could that be an idea for us who get builups of protein in our hair?:confused::D
ktani
June 12th, 2010, 09:45 AM
I'm so glad you started this thread because I thought of starting one myself after buying the Freeman Papaya and Lime Shine Conditioner to CO wash with.
I noticed quite a bit of shedding while using it the 1 time I did and thought that was odd for me since I shed very little during CO washes.
I put it down to early summertime shedding but then I googled papaya and came up with hair removal creams containing papaya. Apparently it removes hair and age spots so it must work pretty well.
I haven't used it since.
I'm glad ktani responded to this thread as I was going to request her input if I started a thread about it.
ETA: I will be subscribing to this thread to keep up with any new info.
Thank you!
I was curious to see what I would find. I think with the FDA warning, I would avoid papain/papaya containing products. If enough of those ingredients are in a product to be able to do anything, the possible adverse effects are not worth it.
Silver Strands
June 12th, 2010, 10:16 AM
Thank you!
I was curious to see what I would find. I think with the FDA warning, I would avoid papain/papaya containing products. If enough of those ingredients are in a product to be able to do anything, the possible adverse effects are not worth it.
Your welcome. Your posts on ingredients and products are always very informative.
The Freeman Papaya and Lime conditioner lists papaya as the 3rd ingredient after water and cetyl alcohol, so it must contain quite a bit of it. And it refers to it as "carica papaya (papaya) fruit extract" so it must be the flesh.
There are many products out there to benefit hair and to remove hair with papaya in it.
It is very confusing.
Lunami
June 12th, 2010, 04:56 PM
Thanks for writing this.
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