The science of microbiology has established a workable theory on the use of adult stem cells in generating new hair growths in those who experience androgenic alopecia and other forms of hair loss.
There is new research that supports the hopes of 50 million American men in getting their hair back. The secret to a new hair loss breakthrough just might be hidden in the scalp.
Researchers initially thought that men who were balding must have fewer of the necessary stem cells that produce hair. They were stunned to learn that the number of cells in bald men was actually the same as in men with a full head of hair. So this raised hope to people that we can come up with a way of activating these stem cells and develop hair loss treatments supporting that.
Adult stem cells differ from other cells found in the body since they have the ability to self-renew. In the process of self-renewal, the stem cell makes an exact replica of itself and the newly formed cells are capable of dividing and transforming into specialized cells. When these stem cells are manipulated to become hair follicle cells, they can produce hair growth and replace the hair follicles that are no longer capable of this function.
This process is accomplished via chemical signals sent out by the human brain. When stem cells are situated near damaged or dying cells in unproductive hair follicles, the stem cells are signaled to migrate to the base of the hair follicle and begin dividing. As the cells divide, these differentiate into different cell types that are needed to create a healthy hair follicle. Some stem cells become part of the hair follicle and some become part of the skin surface that surrounds the follicle. Once cell division and specialization is done, a new hair follicle is born.
The steps in the projected use of stem cells as a hair loss treatment in the future are the following:
- The stem cells are taken from the hair follicles at the sides or back of the head.
- These stem cells are implanted into the thinning or balding areas of the scalp where they start to proliferate to form new hair follicles.
- After some time, these follicles produce thick, pigmented hair that grows at the right angle. New hair growths are naturally your own, without side effects and complications.
With the advances in microbiology and medical innovations brought on by further stem cell science research, baldness will soon become a thing of the past.
