Future of Hair Growth Using Stem Cells

In today’s world, hair is not only considered part of our body and also a part of our style and value. Modern society has developed loathe towards men without hair and more often individuals are ill-treated and misjudged. Balding even affects one’s self-esteem, psychological well-being, and quality of life. 

In general, every individual loses nearly 50 to 100 hairs per day. When this number exceeds, one may get to know that they are going bald. Presently several oils, lotions, serums, treatments, etc. have been identified for hair regrowth. One such measure is the Hair Stem Cell Transplantation Treatment. This method is still in the research and is expected to reach human purposes in 2021 or 2020 

AGA or Androgenetic alopecia is a complex condition that may be due to genetic, hormonal, and environmental conditions. Almost 50% of all males get affected by hair loss. This proportion is similar in females also. However, the pattern of hair loss differs in both males and females. In women, AGA does not lead to total baldness.

Some of the symptoms of hair loss include thinning of hair, excessive loss of hair, receding in the hairline, exposed scalp region showing the horseshoe pattern, and unusual loss of hair on the body parts such as eyebrows and lashes.

What is Hair Stem Cell Transplantation?

Hair stem cell transplantation is similar to a traditional hair transplant. But when compared to ordinary hair transplantation, this requires only a small amount of stem cells. These cells are collected from the adipose tissue in our body or using induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC or genetically reprogrammed adult Stem cells). This treatment empowers one to get the same type of hair they had during their childhood days. 

The Hair Stem cell transplantation (HST) method begins with a punch biopsy to extract stem cells from the donor area. The extracted tissues or hair naturally regrows in the donor area. Then a machine called a centrifuge is made used for the separation of stem cells from the tissues. The extracted stem cells are injected into the scalp in the areas of hair loss. 

Experiments and Results: 

A stem cell hair transplant was performed successfully by  Italian researchers in 2017. The results of the Italian study showed a 29% increase in hair density 23 weeks after the last treatment. Another experiment was conducted by an institute with 38 patients, including 29 men and nine women aged between 18 to 59 years. The participants were asked not to maintain a consistent hairstyle and did not receive full hair care throughout the 16-week trial.

The International Society For Stem Cell Research conducted its annual meeting in June. In that meeting, a professor working in that organization presented his research papers in which he stated that mice that don’t have hair because of genetic immunodeficiency are likely to grow hair. By combining different skin and hair cells from mice and human beings it was possible. NCBI.nlm.

Advantages of hair stem cell therapy:

Some of the advantages include,

Patients need not be under supervision in the hospital for a long duration of time 

Providing long-lasting and effective results 

In many cases, Stem cells are collected from the same individual therefore it is easily affordable 

Who can afford this treatment? 

People who experience male androgenic alopecia (Male Pattern Baldness), androgenetic alopecia (female pattern baldness), and cicatricial alopecia (hair follicles are destroyed and replaced with scar) can aim for this treatment. Patients with major hair fall reasons can also take these treatments if they wish. 

Still, research for hair stem cell treatment is going on throughout the world and this can be introduced to the public at any time. Since research is taking place there is information about where to have hair stem cell transplantation.