Patent ID: 8894979

Claim:
A method to stimulate the growth of hair and nails and/or to slow the loss of the hair and nails by reducing inflammation, comprising administering to a person in need thereof a composition comprising at least one C7 sugar or a derivative of formula (I) and a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient wherein: Ra represents a hydrogen atom and Rb represents —OR 2 or CRaRb represents a CO radical; R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , R 5 , R 6 and R 7 represent, independently of one another: a hydrogen atom or a —(CO)—R radical wherein R represents a saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon chain containing from 11 to 24 carbon atoms, optionally substituted by hydroxy radicals (—OH), ethoxy radicals (—OC 2 H 5 ) and an —SO 3 M group with M representing a hydrogen atom, an ammonium ion (NH 4 + ) or a metal ion; or a —(CO)—R′ radical wherein R′ represents a saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon chain containing from 2 to 10 carbon atoms, optionally substituted by hydroxy radicals (—OH), ethoxy radicals (—OC 2 H 5 ) and an —SO 3 M group with M representing a hydrogen atom, an ammonium ion (NH 4 + ) or a metal ion; and at least one of R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , R 5 , R 6 and R 7 is —(CO)—R or —(CO)—R′.