Thiosulfate Promotes Hair Growth in Mouse Model

In a 2018 study, sodium thiosulfate (STS) was found to promote hair growth in mice by stimulating resting hair follicles to reenter the growth phase and enhancing the effects of minoxidil (MXD), a common hair growth treatment. The study used two mouse models to test the effects of STS on both resting and active hair follicles, with sample sizes ranging from 5 to 12 mice per treatment group. STS, especially at a 10% concentration, was shown to increase hair growth speed and, when combined with 1% MXD, had a significant additive effect on hair growth. The study suggested that the hair growth-promoting activity of STS might be due to vasorelaxation and the generation of hydrogen sulfide (H₂S), which has vasorelaxation and anti-inflammatory/anti-oxidative properties. No adverse systemic health effects were observed, and the study concluded that STS has the potential to be a novel treatment for hair loss, working synergistically with MXD. Further research and clinical trials are needed to understand the precise mechanisms by which STS promotes hair growth.