This invention regards the use of zeaxanthin and/or rutin, as such or further combined with spermidine, as the active principle in a pharmaceutical, dietary, or cosmetic composition, acting to inhibit caspase-3 and therefore to control apoptosis by preventing programmed cell death. The indication for this composition according to the invention is primarily the treatment of scalp disorders characterized by excessive cellular turnover including chemotherapy-induced alopecia, alopecia areata, androgenetic alopecia and telogen effluvium.