New Age Hair Restoration Techniques That Could Possibly Treat Baldness

Posted by AK Clinics on June 27th, 2019

If you are someone who has been losing hair constantly, then you too would understand the pain it tends to cause and would surely be looking for some way to get your hair back. If the hair loss is severe and has stabilised, you might be an ideal candidate for a hair transplant, but before you consider this option, there are some other methods that you might want to consider. It is interesting to note that there is constant research in the field of hair loss and hair restoration, because this is a problem that is lot more common than most people would think. Such research has also emerged from the understanding that the existing medicines and treatments have limited efficacy.

In this article, we will take a look at some of the latest and most cutting edge research in the domain of hair restoration. It is interesting to note that most of the research being done is not about how to treat the symptoms, rather about what could be causing the hair loss. The understanding is that by finding out what could be causing the hair loss, hair loss can be nipped in the bud.

Here are some of the most ground-breaking research and methods that are emerging to treat hair loss and that go beyond surgical hair loss treatment:

  • A recent study conducted at the University of Edinburgh showed that there are close to 300 genetic regions that are all involved in the procedure of male pattern baldness. Many of these genes were actually linked with the structure of the hair and how it develops. During the study, the researchers were able to identify several new genetic signals and what was truly interesting in that study was that many of the genetic signals that lead to male pattern baldness came from the X chromosome, which is inherited from the mothers. This study is now being adhered to the creation of medicines which will allow to work to inhibit the genetic signals that lead to baldness and hence help avoid it.

  • Yet another study, this time in the University of Texas, has helped identify a protein called KROX20. According to this study, this protein is what ‘switches’ on the cells in the skin and tells them to turn into hair. In addition, KROX20 cells then go on to create a protein that is commonly referred to as SCF or stem cell factor, which is what decides what colour your hair will be. The study showed that when the SCF gene was muted in mice, their hair turned white, irrespective of age. In addition, when the same gene was removed altogether, the growth of hair stopped too. The idea behind the study is that in the future, it could lead to the creation of a medication or topical compound that help with the delivery of the KROX20 protein to hair that might be missing it, leading to lesser hair loss.

  • At the University of California-San Francisco, a study showed that when there were defects in a type of immune cell known as Tregs, which is normally known to control any type of inflammation, it could lead to hair loss. As a matter of fact, these studies have shown that it could be Tregs that is one of the inherent causes for male pattern baldness. When the study was conducted on mice, it showed that it was the Tregs stem cells that helped with proper hair growth. When stem cells were not able to partner properly with the Tregs cells, hair follicles were unable to regenerate, leading to hair loss.

  • Yet another study was conducted at the Columbia University Medical Center, New York City, where they figured out that hair regrowth could be promoted once the JAK family or Janus Kinase family of enzymes was inhibited. These are actually located within the hair follicles and what the studies revealed was that when these inhibitors were applied, there was an immediate increase in hair growth. Tests showed that when these inhibitors were applied, the hair growth rate in cases of alopecia areata was almost at 90 percent and above. The researchers hope to create methods by which hair loss can be reduced and hair regrowth promoted.

  • Researchers at the Sanford -Burnham Medical Research Institute in San Diego, California have developed a technique that could probably generate new hair. With the help of pluripotent stem cells, there is the possibility of having an unlimited source of cells, which in turn could translate into new hair and all this without having to undergo a transplantation procedures. The researchers have developed a protocol that will allow these pluripotent stem cells to convert into dermal papilla cells. Such a procedure, when combines with something simpler such as PRP for hair loss could lead to wonderful and positive results.

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AK Clinics
Joined: September 21st, 2018
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