Last week we discussed the impact of new research on treating alopecia areata, a type of hair loss called “spot baldness,” that was discovered by a team from Columbia University. Led by Angela Christiano, this group of researchers were able to provide hope for treatment of what was once considered an untreatable condition.
This week we are delving into another new discovery for potential treatment of hair loss, this time for Male Pattern Hair Loss (MPHL). Also called androgenetic alopecia, MPHL is the most common form of hair loss for both men and women today. Currently, the primary forms of treatment are focused on treating the symptoms. This is primarily accomplished using advanced surgical techniques like Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) and Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT) to replace the dead follicles with active ones.
SCUBE3 And Hair Restoration
Maksim Plikus and a team of researchers at University of California, Irvine, have discovered a breakthrough in genetic understanding that could be the foundation of future treatment for sufferers of MPHL.
They discovered that at different points in the life of a hair follicle, cells send signals to tell a hair follicle to either grow new hair or to remain dormant. But they could not find exactly what was triggering those signals and why. Until this year.
They discovered that a molecule called SCUBE3 is what sends that signal and causes the hair follicle cells to start dividing and creating growth. This is an important breakthrough because current medications – like finasteride and minoxidil – require maintaining a regimen and only work so long as they are taken daily. Even then, neither of these medicines works for all patients suffering from MPHL.
By identifying SCUBE3 as the active agent in creating hair growth, researchers now have the means to move testing and experimentation from the pre-clinical stage to the clinical stage of development.
What Could SCUBE3 Mean For MPHL Hair Restoration?
This research was conducted specifically to target hair loss related to MPHL, so its potential impact on treatment is extremely broad at this point. What researchers have found, however, is that in human hair follicles implanted in mice, triggering SCUBE3 to stimulate hair growth has been effective and viable.
This has led the team to file for a research patent to take testing through to the next levels and prepare for further trials. They are hoping that they are able to activate similar results to what they experienced in testing so far, including activation of not only targeted human hair follicles implanted on mice, but nearby human and mouse hair follicles as well.
The hope is that with more research, they can learn how to follow SCUBE3 as it activates dormant hair follicles in people with pattern baldness. Ideally, this will create a cycle of growth that stimulates hair to regrow on its own without requiring surgery.
If you’re hoping for a sudden miracle cure, however, you’ll have to wait a while. These processes can take years or even decades to finish research and make it to FDA approval for use. That said, their research has opened up the door for other researchers to launch from, and to encourage new ideas for treatment of MPHL and other forms of hair loss. Perhaps even alopecia areata!
For now, though, Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) and Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT) are still the safest, most effective treatments for most cases of MPHL.
Before deciding on any course of treatment, it is always best to schedule a consultation with an expert in the field of hair restoration. Dr. Joseph Williams at Advanced Medical Hair Institute brings decades of experience, a holistic approach, and an outstanding professional reputation to those seeking treatment in the Las Vegas area. Find out more about which treatment options are right for you today.
