Follicle Facts: New Avenues For Treating Hair Loss

As we noted earlier this fall, hair loss and the psychological distress that can result continue to be a target of scientific research and technological advances. It seems that even though hair loss does not cause serious illness or life-threatening conditions, it is commonplace (by age 65, about 53% of men and 37% of women will experience it) and thus has become an area ripe with innovation and investor interest, especially as drug producers have learned the lesson from marketing their products directly to consumers, as they have done with GLP1s and other quality-of-life products. STAT recently posted that biotech investors have put over $270 million into two new hair-loss startups that are focused on androgenetic alopecia, the most common reason for balding. Whether life-altering and accessible hair loss treatments will result from this investment remains to be seen, but it’s clear that researchers, along with investors and consumers, take hair loss seriously as a problem in need of valuable remedies.

As a review, there are several options to address hair loss currently on the market, some with more science and evidence to support their use than others. There is topical minoxidil (often known by its brand name Rogaine) that can be purchased by prescription or over the counter for both men and women, and which often requires two daily applications. Those who value this product will be happy to know that research is underway to enhance the drug delivery and impact of minoxidil through the use of stevioside, a compound that gives the product Stevia its sweetness. According to a new study published in Advanced Healthcare Materials, mixing stevioside with minoxidil to create a small patch that can be placed on the head creates a precise, targeted delivery of minoxidil and, in a study of mice, produced significant new hair in just 35 days. So grab your brush and read more about this new study here. Also available is an oral version of minoxidil, which was originally intended to treat high blood pressure but is now used off-label as an oral hair loss treatment. One of the new biotech companies, earlier mentioned by STAT, is working on a once daily oral version of minoxidil.

There is also finasteride for men, which stops the thinning of hair follicles. However, it’s important to note that in recent months, research has come out detailing the significant mental health effects of finasteride, including its link to severe depression and even suicide in some patients using it. Apparently, both the producer (Merck) and the FDA have kept these severe side effects under the radar, and only recently has news about the potential risks and harm of finasteride come to public awareness. You can read more about these recent revelations here. There is also data to support the use of platelet-rich plasma injections for hair loss, along with red-light therapy. In fact, a recent study found that red-light therapy can produce hair renewal results similar to topical minoxidil. While red-light therapy can be expensive, for some it may be a good alternative to the challenges of using topical minoxidil. For some recommendations of red-light devices to consider, charge your batteries and read here.