A ray of hope for people seeking to put an end to alopecia. A study conducted by the Department of Dermatology at Hospital Clínico San Carlos in Madrid promises to offer a solution for those who want to reverse baldness or prevent it, according to an article published in the journal Stem Cell Research & Therapy.
The treatment combines stem cells derived from body fat with an energizing molecule called adenosine triphosphate (ATP)—a combination that acts as a stimulus to regenerate hair. This is the key to the success of the research, which has been led by Eduardo López Bran, Head of Dermatology at the Madrid hospital.
The dermatologist states that the end of baldness in both men and women is now closer than ever, although it will not become a reality for at least five years, as clinical trial phases, human testing, and regulatory approval requirements still need to be completed.
An End to Androgenetic Alopecia
The goal of López Bran’s team is to put an end to androgenetic alopecia, the most common form of hair loss. This type of alopecia affects 80% of men and between 30% and 50% of those over the age of 50, as well as 40% of women.
In men, this form of alopecia typically begins at the front of the scalp—the classic receding hairline—while in women it most commonly presents as generalized thinning of the hair concentrated on the top of the head.
The cause is dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a molecule that, when it binds to the scalp, causes hair follicles to shrink, reduces their growth cycle, and makes the hair finer and therefore more vulnerable. The study focused on how to neutralize the effects of this molecule.
What the Treatment Involves
Hospital Clínico San Carlos in Madrid has developed a mechanism that consists of combining adipose-derived stem cells (from body fat) with adenosine triphosphate, triggering hair regeneration. The treatment has been successfully tested in mice.
Researchers divided the animals into two groups: those in which hair loss was induced using DHT, and those given a placebo. All mice in the first group managed to fully repopulate their hair, while those in the second group showed greater difficulties, with only about 40% achieving strong scalp recovery (the rest showed moderate regrowth).
This result led to a key conclusion for the continuation of the research: DHT administration makes it possible to study androgenetic alopecia in mice. To restore hair growth, researchers administered low doses of stem cells and adenosine triphosphate to male rodents. They observed that the formula resulted in “total” hair regrowth in 50% of the mice, while the remaining 50% experienced “intense” recovery.
In female mice, which received medium doses of the formula, hair regrowth was “total” in 50% of cases, “intense” in 40%, and “poor” in the remaining animals.
