Recent Advances in the Role of Fibroblast Growth Factors in Hair Follicle Growth

    August 2025 in “ Biomolecules ”
    Junchao Wang, Lusheng Wang, Shuang Gao, Xiaokun Li
    TLDR Fibroblast growth factors could be a better, safer treatment for hair loss than current options.
    This review highlights the critical role of fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) in hair follicle growth and their potential as therapeutic agents for hair loss conditions like androgenetic alopecia. FGFs are involved in hair follicle morphogenesis and cycling, offering advantages over conventional treatments such as minoxidil and finasteride, which often have limited efficacy and side effects. FGFs target hair follicle regeneration through specific mechanisms, such as inducing the anagen phase and activating signaling pathways, providing a non-invasive alternative with regenerative potential. Despite challenges in delivery optimization due to FGF's short half-life, these therapies offer superior standardization, direct efficacy, and a favorable safety profile compared to other emerging treatments like Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) and exosome therapy. The review emphasizes the potential of targeting FGF pathways for developing new treatments for hair loss and promoting hair regeneration, although no new data were created or analyzed in this study.
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