A definitive cure for baldness may be on the horizon. Researchers from a Taiwanese university have announced the discovery of a serum that can regrow hair in just 20 days.
According to a report by Fox News, the study, published in the journal Cell Metabolism, showed that fat cells located beneath the skin can reactivate hair growth.
The researchers used skin samples from mice to observe changes in subcutaneous fat tissue, as well as in hair follicles and the cells that promote hair growth, after inflicting small injuries to stimulate specific biological reactions, according to a press release.
After the skin was damaged, the fat cells began breaking down stored fat in a process called lipolysis. The fatty acids were then released into the skin, signaling stem cells in the hair follicles to begin growing.
When the scientists prevented the fat cells from breaking down the fat, hair growth ceased.
The researchers also rubbed fatty acids onto the skin of mice to see if it would stimulate hair growth in those areas. The test was successful. This led to hair growth.
The researchers noted that the same pattern appeared in multiple experiments, but this research is still in its early stages and has not yet been tested on humans.
In one experiment, scientists observed hair regrowth in mice within 20 days after applying the topical treatment once daily.
These results only appeared after skin injury. The researchers pointed out that controlled skin inflammation—resulting from chemical irritation or “deeper dermal injury”—has previously been shown to stimulate hair growth and is already used clinically to treat hair loss.
The study stated that the mechanisms by which dormant stem cells and surrounding cells sense and respond to these injuries to initiate hair regeneration remain unclear.
The experiments showed that applying monounsaturated fatty acids to the skin can help with hair growth. Because these fats occur naturally in the body and are known to be safe, they could be a viable option for treating hair loss in the future, according to the researchers.
Dermatologist Dr. Brendan Camp told the network that the results were “remarkable,” especially given the current “great interest” in research related to hair loss treatments.
He added, “But it’s still very preliminary, and since the trials weren’t conducted on human scalp skin, the results may not be applicable to humans.”
He continued, “This is a small study, and more research is needed on this method as a potential treatment option for androgenetic alopecia (the most common type of hair loss in men and women).”
Until this potential method is approved for clinical use in humans, Camp encourages people experiencing hair loss to focus on currently available and “scientifically proven” treatments, as well as consulting a board-certified dermatologist for evaluation and follow-up.