Valproic Acid Promotes Human Hair Growth in In Vitro Culture Model

The study from 2013 found that valproic acid (VPA) promotes human hair growth both in vitro and in vivo. In vitro, VPA enhanced the viability of human dermal papilla cells and outer root sheath cells, elongated the hair shaft, and delayed the transition to the catagen phase in human hair follicles. This was associated with increased levels of β-catenin protein due to the inhibition of GSK-3β. In vivo, VPA induced the anagen phase in mice. The study involved 469 human scalp hair follicles from 6 individuals and 16 mice across the in vivo study groups. The findings suggest that VPA could be a potential treatment for alopecia, as it promotes hair growth by affecting β-catenin signaling pathways, rather than through histone deacetylase inhibition. The study indicates that topical VPA application might be a safe and effective treatment for hair loss.