learn Follistatin
glycoprotein that inhibits TGF-β and promotes hair growth by antagonizing activin
- What is follistatin, and how does it influence hair follicle growth and regeneration? Follistatin blocks activin and related growth-inhibiting proteins, which in laboratory and animal work is described as keeping hair follicles in their growth phase; the only verifiable human evidence is a single small 2011 phase 1 injection trial, so follistatin remains experimental and is not an approved hair-loss treatment.
- Can follistatin be applied topically, or is it only effective through injections or systemic use? Follistatin is not effective when applied topically and requires injections or systemic use.
- How does follistatin compare to finasteride or dutasteride for treating androgenic alopecia? Finasteride and dutasteride are prescription drugs with large controlled trials showing they lower DHT and slow androgenic hair loss, at the cost of documented hormonal side effects; follistatin targets a different, regenerative pathway but has only one small phase 1 human trial behind it, so it is experimental with unknown safety rather than a comparable alternative.
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