Hair Loss and Stem Cell Research

The theory behind using stem cells to treat hair loss is actually not as complex as it sounds. In the case of hair loss, stem cell therapy is an approach used on dead hair cells. It holds the principle that because dead hair cells have lost the ability to regenerate, new hair cells produced from cultivated stem cells can theoretically replace the dead ones and consequently, obtain the ability to produce healthy hair again.

Inactive Stem Cells

It has been generally assumed that androgenetic alopecia or male/female pattern baldness is triggered by the failure of the stem cells in producing progenitor cells in the scalp to stimulate hair growth. This results from the malnutrition of the follicles due to Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) build-up in genetically DHT-sensitive follicles.

Unlike progenitor cells, stem cells can differentiate into several types of cells (totipotent). Progenitor cells can only morph into certain types of other cells. Cells that have died or been damaged are replaced by progenitor cells.

Experimentation on Mice

The human scalp is said to bear 100,000 hair follicles. Experts have always believed that through stem cell therapy, fully-functioning hair follicles can be cultivated.

The only main concern of researchers is isolating the hair follicle stem cells that could be used for regeneration.

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