In 2015, I discussed new hair multiplication related collaborative work between the University of Manitoba (Canada — led by Dr. Malcolm Xing) and Nanfang Hospital Southern Medical University (China). Researchers from the latter recently published two new hair related studies, one of which analyzes the results of Chinese clinical trials involving mesenchymal stem cell injections for hair growth.
Note that hair follicle derived mesenchymal stem cells (HF-MSCs) include both dermal papilla (DP) cells and dermal sheath (DS) cup cells. Mesenchymal stem cells can also be derived from: adult tissues (bone marrow, peripheral blood, adipose/fat and teeth); and neonatal-birth associated tissues (Wharton’s jelly, placenta, cord blood, umbilical cord and amniotic fluid).
In recent years, mesenchymal stem cells have been in the news a lot due to the rising popularity of mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)-derived exosomes in regenerative medicine applications.
Treating Androgenetic Alopecia with Mesenchymal Stem Cell Injections
Recently, reader “Theo” sent me a link to a new November 2024 study from the Department of Plastic and Aesthetic Surgery, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University. It entails a superior method of isolating human hair follicle dermal papilla cells (DPCs).
More importantly, several of the co-authors of this study also co-authored a September 2024 study titled: “A Clinical Trial of Treating Androgenic Alopecia with Mesenchymal Stem Cell Suspension Derived from Autologous Hair Follicle.” This trial occurred at the Department of Plastic and Aesthetic Surgery, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University (China). The link to the actual 50-person trial that ended in 2022 can be seen here.
The results were encouraging, although the increasing hair count and hair thickening effects lasted for just 3 months. Note that at around 7 months, the treated group still had slightly higher terminal hair counts and mean hair diameters compared to when they started out. If this method is improved, a once-a-year injection session is totally fine by me.
“An increased proportion of terminal hair and hair shaft diameter was observed in the experimental group at 1 month. The effect lasted for 3 months. The hair-thickening effect of advanced miniaturized hair follicles with hair shaft diameter less than 60 µm was more notable than that for above 60 µm. No patient experienced any obvious side effects.”
They also include two images showing before and after (3 months) hair growth results. The left side in the below image is the before photos.
Stem Cells and Hair Multiplication
This makes me even more positive about Shiseido’s dermal sheath cup cell hair multiplication procedure that was released in 2024. And perhaps HairClone will finally test its dermal papilla cell injection treatment on humans in the UK in 2025. Also of note, in 2024, Dr. Junji Fukuda of Fukuda Lab announced that “Dermal papilla cell transplantation is about to begin in Japan.“
And several South Korean hair loss companies could test this in humans in 2025 too. I would also never discount the cursed Aderans coming back from the dead a second time. And dying again.
Note that similar attempts have been done in animals and humans in the past. Further reading:
- An April 2023 literature review of stem cell applications in human hair growth.
- A March 2023 systemic review on human stem cell use in androgenetic alopecia.
In my 2015 interview with Dr. Xing, he said that he had just returned from a trip to Nanfang Hospital and that:
“A team of more than 10 clinical doctors is working on hair loss in the Department of Plastic Surgery, Nanfang Hospital.”
It is always great to see more hair related research and clinical trials taking place in China. Within East Asia, the country has lagged Japan and South Korea in importance when it comes to hair research.
Well well, I really like this news administrator! This is no longer the future but the present!! I am sure this is the alternative to dutasteride and 100% effective. I need to resolve my personal doubt if after the treatment the treated hair will become resistant to DHT because if so it will be like a cure for many! Many centers are developing the technique, in Spain they are also doing trials, although with animals for now.
As a curiosity, not long ago I contacted Bessam Farjo (Hairclone) and asked him my curiosity mentioned above and he answered that the idea is that yes, the treated hair would become resistant. They plan to start treating the first patients in the fourth quarter of 2025, but you already know how it is…
Thanks for the comments Alvaro! Yeah, HairClone keeps dangling us the carrot every year.
Yes, administrator, it’s always the same… It’s always next year, but the difference is that now Shisheido has already started, and this is not difficult, it is isolating cells and multiplying them and now there are many companies involved and in my opinion I think that this can have results that we could not imagine in terms of effectiveness… It is like performing a complete transplant with 100 hairs, but of course you have to preserve the roots of those hairs… Thank you for your work administrator!!
Attached is the link to the research in Spain: https://www.comunidad.madrid/hospital/clinicosancarlos/noticia/dermatologos-hospital-publico-clinico-san-carlos-investigan-tratamiento-alopecia-androgenetica
Thanks!
I don’t understand. Even if MSCs can be potentially used in a therapy to treat hair loss, it is no where near close to being approved for clinical use for any our timelines. Unfortunately, as much as I wish this was not the case, there are no imminent treatments (forget cure) coming down the pipeline.
Already available in Japan with Shiseido (and Fukuda soon). Just move there lol. They need more citizens anyway.
No where does it say that it’s already available in Japan? And if it was available in Japan and offered as a clinically significant treatment to hair loss, I’d suspect it would be news everywhere.
It’s better not to answer you… Yoyo is right sometimes.
Well, I’m sorry for stating the obvious. Evidence based research and analysis is your friend. Blind faith optimism is not.
Well don’t I feel better huh
Stop trolling Sam.
Shiseido’s new treatment has been discussed here for months. It is even mentioned by Admin in this very post lol. Stop faking ignorance.
Sam is right though. Shiseido’s treatment barely had any efficacy so better forget about it.
He said that it was not already available in Japan. Which is incorrect.
As far as efficacy, I am optimistic that the Shiseido method will regenerate some hairs that Dutasteride or Finasteride do not.
For all of these treatments, the key phrase is “synergistic effect.”
I have to agree with Sam, as much as I’m hoping this can develop into something substantial its clearly not there yet otherwise we’d all be jetting off to Japan with me first! I’m a NW6 but I still have the majority of my hair from what I can tell its just miniaturised, even still pigmented but wont grow longer than 2-3mm max and the hair diamenter is tiny. So I’m optimistic a treatment like this could have great results for me but theres no point in not being realistic. I hope by 2030 theres treatment options available finaateride gave me horrible sides.
This treatment (even after further 2022-2025 improvements) and Sheseido’s treatment will almost certainly not benefit Norwood 6 patients in any significant manner :-(
I am excited about Shiseido’s decade plus tested treatment (now in the market in Japan) for those who still have at least half their scalp covered with hair. Same with what Fukuda tests in humans in 2025 (or already started in 2024).
Even if it doesn’t work for a Norwood 6 to bring all hair back wouldn’t it still help bring it back a formidable degree?
Hi Admin, which year do you think hair regeneration will become commercially available? Thank you.
I asked ChatGPT this question. Here was the response:
“Realistically, a complete “cure” for all forms of hair loss might still be decades away, depending on the type (genetic, autoimmune, etc.). However, within the next 5-10 years, we may see significant improvements in treatments, particularly for reversible or non-genetic types of hair loss.“
If I had to guess, I’d say 2040 at the earliest.
ChatGPT:
Estimating a specific year for curing hair loss is speculative, but based on current advancements and the pace of medical research, a practical “cure” for most forms of hair loss might be achievable within the next 20–30 years (2040–2050). Here’s why:
Short-Term (5–10 Years):
• Improved Treatments: Better medications (e.g., JAK inhibitors, WNT modulators) and refinements in existing procedures (like FUE transplants) will become more accessible.
• Stem Cell Therapies: Early-stage clinical trials might lead to commercial applications for regenerating hair follicles.
Medium-Term (10–20 Years):
• Hair Cloning: Scalable solutions for follicle cloning and implantation could become available, offering a breakthrough for irreversible hair loss.
• Genetic Solutions: CRISPR or other gene-editing techniques might address genetic predispositions like androgen sensitivity.
Long-Term (20–30 Years):
• Complete Regeneration: Advances in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine may enable the regeneration of hair follicles from scratch, offering a true cure for most forms of hair loss.
Of course, this timeline depends on continued funding, regulatory approval processes, and overcoming biological challenges. Unexpected breakthroughs could accelerate progress, but systemic barriers like cost and accessibility may delay widespread availability.
Sam and Tom are you the same person? I understand that if you do not understand the mechanism of alopecia, you are not enthusiastic about progress of this style, you will probably prefer to take finasteride and minoxidil. Obviously it is not a cure with NW6 who has lost most of his hair, but if you do not understand the mechanism of this therapy it is like talking against a wall.
Tom has been commenting for a year. Sam seems new.
Someone else made two lengthy comments yesterday, ending each one by saying that there will be no cure this century. I disapproved both comments.
In 11 years of writing this blog, I still have no idea why anyone would visit this site regularly while thinking there will be no cure this century. Most are trolls, but some could be legit.
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