It's Not Like Growing Grass

In a study reported in March in the journal Science, George Cotsarelis and his team at the University of Pennsylvania discovered that a compound called prostaglandin D₂ (PD₂) was elevated in the blood of men with male-pattern baldness. They found that blocking PD₂ receptors in mice allowed hair to continue growing, suggesting a potential topical treatment for hair loss. Additionally, Cotsarelis is investigating a method to grow new hair by replicating the Wnt-mediated signaling pathway, which is involved in hair follicle formation during the healing process in mice. Another approach being explored is follicular neogenesis, which involves removing, multiplying, and reimplanting a person's hair follicle stem cells, although currently, these cells lose their identity when cultured. The research emphasizes the complexity of treating hair loss, likening it to treating cancer rather than simply growing grass.