From a new treatment for alopecia areata (also known as “spot baldness”) to the discovery of a new molecule’s ability to trigger hair growth, 2022 has been a busy year for hair restoration research. While Male Pattern Hair Loss (MPHL) is still the most common form of hair loss, it is not the only one.
More importantly, research into these other forms of alopecia, hair loss, and hair growth often leads to new breakthroughs in other areas. Hair restoration may have been around for a long time as a surgical practice, but it is still being understood, expanded upon, and developed to improve the lives and health of millions of people.
Today’s post is part one of a two-part series that will provide brief overviews of these two discoveries and explain how they might impact surgical hair transplantation in a broader sense as well!
Finding Treatments for Alopecia Areata
Alopecia areata is very different from MPHL in terms of both why it happens and how it is generally treated. However, they are both related to genes and genetic research, which means that researchers who learn more about one can often provide new insight into ways to treat the other.
Treating alopecia areata turned out to be more difficult than expected because of the way it was understood prior to the research that was concluded this year. As an autoimmune disease affecting the skin and related parts of the body (hair follicles, for example), researchers and doctors tried to treat it like they do other autoimmune diseases on the skin.
Unfortunately, those treatments did not work. This prompted a team from Columbia University, led by Dr. Angela Christiano, to find out why alopecia areata did not respond to those treatments. The findings were groundbreaking.
They discovered that alopecia areata was triggered by an autoimmune response that sent “killer” T-Cells to attack hair follicles because a specific gene saw them as foreign to the body. This meant that rather than looking to treat this disease as a typical skin-based autoimmune problem didn’t work. Instead, they had to begin looking at treatments similar to those for cancer and diabetes, which sent similar “killer” T-Cells to attack healthy cells.
It took over a decade of work and research, but this year the team was able to see the results of their work in the recovered hair growth and reversal of alopecia areata in the final round of testing.
How did they do it? Rather than treat the genetic issue, they focused on tackling the killer T-Cells by using JAK Inhibitors to force them to stand down from their attacks on healthy cells. According to the study, over 75% of people saw significant hair regrowth after suffering from alopecia areata for varying periods of time prior to treatment.
Alopecia Areata Research And Male Pattern Hair Loss
But what does this mean for MPHL? While these immunosuppressant treatments are the right choice for some people, they are potentially very hard on the human body, and the benefits need to be weighed against the risks.
However, in the process of studying JAK Inhibitors for this treatment, researchers also found that they also reawakened dormant hair follicles. These are one of the common symptoms and problems associated with MPHL, and the potential for treatments for this and other forms of baldness are on their agenda to examine next.
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.
