The word “breakthrough” is thrown around a lot when scientific or medical research makes a significant advancement. It implies a sudden and dramatic game-changer, a cure for an illness or other health problems. But the road from a “breakthrough” to an actual treatment is a long one, and it doesn’t always result in a safe and effective solution. That said, recent research is adding more support for the already promising use of stem cells to treat baldness and hair loss.
As reported in Healthline, the 2019 annual meeting of the International Society for Stem Cell Research included the presentation of research that appeared to grow life-like hair in mice that were hairless because of genetic problems. The researchers combined different skin and hair cells from mice and humans and used the same material as dissolvable stitches to create a “scaffold” to control the direction the hair grew into the skin. The result was hair growth in mice that were genetically programmed to be bald.
The human cells used in the research were human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), specifically dermal papilla cells, which are found inside hair follicles and control hair growth, thickness, and length.
This is just the latest development in an ongoing effort to leverage the power of stem cells to treat a range of conditions, including hair loss. Stem cells are the multi-talented repairmen of our bodies, maintaining and restoring healthy functioning everywhere, fixing the body by dividing and replacing damaged tissues.
Now new stem cell research, like the 2019 study, and more refined techniques are showing that reintroducing an individual’s own stem cell back into hair follicles can create a nourishing environment that may foster regrowth and fight the battle against hair loss.
Research has found that stem cell hair transplants may be an effective way of treating hair loss conditions such as:
- male androgenetic alopecia
- androgenetic alopecia
- cicatricial alopecia
At the Miami Hair & Skin Institute, lead surgeons Drs. Rose and Nusbaum have developed a minimally invasive, safe, and comprehensive method of performing stem cell therapy for hair loss. Many patients are excited to learn our stem cell therapy treatments can be utilized in conjunction with hair transplant surgery, platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections, topical treatments (like Rogaine®), and laser hair therapy to maximize results.
To consult with Dr. Bernard Nusbaum and Dr. Paul Rose about whether Miami stem cell hair therapies may be a good option for your hair loss issues, please call our office at 305-925-0222 or contact us online to book your evaluation and consultation.