Have Japanese scientists found the cure for male baldness by using tiny ‘hair follicle germs’?
While human tests might not be on the cards for another five years, ultimately researchers believe the technique could be used to generate luscious new locks
Polished pates and thinning thatches may one day be a thing of the past, thanks to Japanese scientists who have developed a way to grow hair follicles at a record rate.
The study used two kinds of cells placed in silicone containers to cultivate “hair follicle germs” – the sources of the tiny organs that grow and sustain hair.
Led by professor Junji Fukuda at the Yokohama National University, the team managed to cultivate 5,000 within just a few days, enough to replenish hair.
The method is a massive step up from existing laborious techniques that can create just 50 or so “germs” at once.
While human tests might not be on the cards for another five years, ultimately researchers believe the technique could be used to generate luscious new locks.
The technology could also help cancer patients and others with medical conditions that cause hair loss, said Fukuda, whose research was published in the journal Biomaterials.