Skin’s own cells could beat baldness
Research on mice raises hopes for regrowing hair.
Skin may have the capacity to regenerate lost hair follicles from within, according to a new discovery that could yield better treatments for baldness or abnormal hair growth. Researchers in the United States have found that, when skin is wounded, epidermal cells can respond by assuming the properties of stem cells that generate hair follicles and growing new hair.
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The question is if topical remedies, like creams, could ensure that the hair pattern is preserved.
Each individual has a pattern, direction and density regarding the hair grow. Topical creams could make hair grow everywhere, altering the pattern and causing a problem worse than the solution.
However, this discovery brings hope to help with one of the oldest male problems in history and I'll be following the research very close as a future 'boldie' myself!
Posted by: Juan Carlos Servat | May 17, 2007 11:37 AM
Congratulations to G. Cotsarelis and his team! As a Hair Restoration Physician who has dedicated the last ten years of his career to those who are suffering from hair loss, I can say this is certainly an exciting breakthrough. All of us in the field know how 'psychologically deep' the 'roots' of hair loss go...
It will certainly be interesting to see if the "wounding/Wnt pathway activation" process can be used in some way to help restore hair in humans who have extensive hair loss. Those who have delayed seeking treatment with the currently-available medications (Propecia/finasteride, Rogaine/minoxidil, etc.) and treatments (Laser Therapy, Hair Transplantation, etc.) sometimes have hair restoration goals that simply cannot be met because we are limited to maintaining, enhancing or redistributing only the hair follicles that are left after years of hair loss.
If true "Follicular Neogeneis" can be developed in a safe and effective way, it would be extremely helpful for these patients who would have been previously limited by their number of available follicles. Good luck with your future hair growth research!
P.S. I guess there's always hair-dye, but try to get those melanocytes to kick-in so the growth is not all grey! ;)
Keep up the good work.
Sincerely,
Alan J. Bauman, M.D. | Medical Director
Bauman Medical Group | Hair Restoration for Men & Women
Boca Raton, Florida USA
www.BaumanMedical.com or www.BaumanBlog.com
Posted by: Dr. Alan Bauman | May 17, 2007 12:10 PM
My 15 y.o son had a brain tumor and required radiation. Post treatment, his hair was much fuller and more vibrant than prior. I can see how that could have occured with this finding, now. However, he unfortunately has my genes and is now experiencing male pattern baldness-- 10 years later. Wonder what the staying power of the newly discovered treatment will be?
Posted by: tom mcquen | May 17, 2007 04:55 PM
Dear God, give a bald guy a break. Amen. -- Homer Simposon ``Simpson and Delilah''
Posted by: Doug | May 17, 2007 05:28 PM
When will this be available?
Posted by: Patty | May 17, 2007 09:52 PM
I am supprised that no reference has been made in this claim, to the earlier work in this exact same field by Professor Fuchs?
http://www.hhmi.org/fuchs/index.html
This made it very clear that the manipulation of the Wnt's pathway can easily produce tumors!
So far all this so called scientific article has produced, is a race by desperate people on internet hair loss sites, to find treatments that would increase the production of these very dangerous Wnt's protein's!
I am sure such claims will increase the share values of these companies, but anyone who knows anything at all about the real science involved, will tell you that such a procedure in humans will "never" be allowed because of the very basic serious risks.
S Foote.
Posted by: Stephen Foote. | May 17, 2007 10:26 PM
I am a reader from Madrid, Spain, and my husband, who is now 70, is bald since he was very young. He has recently undergone surgery on the head to remove some skin stains and prevent cancer. A month later he has grown some 40 hairs. I think your research may prove to be successful. Please feel free to contact me if you are interested in this case.
Best regards,
Mª del Carmen de Riaño
Posted by: Mª del Carmen de Riaño | May 18, 2007 10:44 AM
Congratulations to d. G Cotsarellis and his team for their achievement.
Will this treatment be applicable to patients suffering from "alopecia areata" and/or "alopecia totalis"?
Thanking you in advance for your reply.
Best regards
Eva
Posted by: Eva | May 18, 2007 01:34 PM
Congratulations to d. G Cotsarellis and his team for their achievement.
Posted by: Sohbet | May 18, 2007 05:03 PM
To Stephen Foote. I don't think Fuch's study involved wounding to induce an embryonic phenotype in skin, thus providing a window for manipulation of hair follicle neogenesis by Wnt proteins.
Posted by: janie | May 19, 2007 05:09 AM
This research will fail because it does not take into account the cause of baldness. The cause, in my opinion, is the acquisition of facial hair. Any treatment that leaves facial hair intact will not succeed. Is there anyone out there who can prove me wrong?
Posted by: James Macintosh | May 19, 2007 09:07 PM
First of all I am not sure if the claims made will really be helpful to MPB affected people like me. I have had enough research and claims on net stating new ways of growing hairs but I have seen none of them available in the market. I really hope atleast this process might work for us. Also I have a doubt, won't the new hairs that grow will be affected by DHT for MPB ? Can anyone clear my doubts and let me know how can I keep on the track on this research so that I can estimate the time reqd. to get a solid cure for this.
Posted by: Vijit | May 21, 2007 07:07 AM
The research done at the University of Pennsylvania has brought about a different concept on the regenerative capabilities of hair follicles. Dr. Cotsarelis and his team have proven that Wnt protein can induce an embryonic phenotype, which can resemble adult hair follicle. Although these findings seem promising for future treatment of many disorders of skin and its appendages, it is too early to conclude we have any treatments in hand for hair loss or other skin disorders based on this research. Regarding hair loss treatment, we are facing three major hampers in our way.
Firstly, the characteristics of mouse hair are remarkably different than human hair. Mouse hair is more of a villous hair in comparison to a mature human hair so called terminal hair. The growth cycle of mouse hair does not follow the same for human hair. Secondly, an alteration of Wnts pathway is proven to be associated with carcinogenesis in all mammals as this is a known gene pathway. The fact that this is a known carcinogen, is a major ‘negative’ and will prevent any human research that may involve manipulation of the Wnt gene. Thirdly, even if we can influence the gene to make it safe for producing a human terminal hair; it is likely that the new hair presents proteins on its surface which will still allow the hair to fall out as the original hair does.
I am writing on this matter in response to the numerous questions from our patients in our hair loss question and answer blog baldingblog asking what to expect within the next few years on this issue in the treatment of hair loss. It is definitely not to undermine the value of the great work that Cotsarelis and his team did. Although the result of this research may not affect the patients’ imminent hair loss and skin problems, it will certainly affect the future of hair related research possibly leading us to find a cure for baldness and similar disorders in the future.
William Rassman, M.D.
New Hair Institute
Posted by: William Rassman, M.D. | May 22, 2007 03:57 AM
This very concept is making serious progress in the hair restoration. Though some say it's still about 10 years away from being approved as a cure for baldness. Check out BattleAgainstBald.com for more info on the topic.
Thanks,
Seth
Posted by: BattleAgainstBald | May 23, 2007 12:02 AM
Actually NYC tap water is pretty good! You must have lousy plumbing in your building.
Posted by: Chat Sohbet | June 19, 2007 06:38 PM
Congratulations to d. G Cotsarellis and his team for their achievement.
Posted by: Gayrimenkul degerleme | September 20, 2007 05:24 PM
Actually NYC tap water is pretty good! You must have lousy plumbing in your building.
Posted by: Sohbet | September 23, 2007 05:37 PM
This very concept is making serious progress in the hair restoration. Though some say it's still about 10 years away from being approved as a cure for baldness. Check out BattleAgainstBald.com for more info on the topic.
Thanks,
Posted by: Perde | March 18, 2008 10:25 PM