Baldness is a nightmare for many. No wonder, no one wants to lose their hair. So far, there have been many methods that were supposed to prevent it. However, recently, scientists managed to discover a potentially completely new method. And it was completely by accident.
Happy accidents happen often. Sometimes they involve finding the last pack of your favorite cookies in the store, and sometimes they involve potentially discovering a new treatment for hereditary baldness. This time, however, we will focus on the latter.
It all started with research on a naturally occurring sugar in the body. It is involved in the creation of DNA, the “deoxyribose” part of deoxyribonucleic acid.
A happy accident. The discovery could change the approach to treating baldness
Scientists from the University of Sheffield and COMSATS University in Pakistan focused on how these sugars, when applied topically, healed wounds in mice. However, during the study they observed something they did not expect: They noticed that hair around the lesions grew back faster than in untreated mice.
So the team decided to investigate further. So they turned to male mice with testosterone-induced hair loss. Then they removed the fur from their backs.
Scientists steamed the exposed skin with a small dose of a deoxyribose sugar gel every day. Within just a few weeks, the fur in that area showed “robust” regrowth. In the area devoid of hair, long, thick individual hairs grew.
New discovery compared to existing drug. Scientists explain
The deoxyribose gel turned out to be so effective that the researchers compared it to minoxidil, a topical hair loss drug. Sheila MacNeil, a tissue engineer at the University of Sheffield, said their research suggests that solving hair loss doesn’t have to be a tough one.
According to the expert, using naturally occurring deoxyribose sugar to increase blood flow to hair follicles will greatly stimulate hair growth.
Scientists aren’t sure why deoxyribose gel stimulates longer, thicker hair growth in mice, but the team did see an increase in blood vessels and skin cells around the treated area.
As they explain, the better the blood supply to the hair bulb, the larger its diameter will be. This in turn can result in greater hair growth. If this gel proves effective in humans as well, it could be a real revolution.
It will be helpful not only in treating baldness, but also in stimulating the regrowth of hair, eyelashes and eyebrows in people after chemotherapy.
The study was published in the journal Frontiers in Pharmacology.
Androgenetic alopecia. A problem for women and men
Hereditary alopecia, also known as androgenetic alopecia, is a natural condition caused by genetics, hormone levels, and aging. This problem affects both women and men, although it can manifest differently depending on gender. It is one of the most common types of alopecia. You can read more about it in our article.
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