It turns out stem cells may save our skins after all—or at least our scalps. According to new research published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation, the mystery of what causes male pattern baldness is a mystery no more.
Pattern baldness, say the researchers, results from a failure of the stem cells in the scalp to produce the right kind of hair—namely, the kind you can actually see and feel. Instead they start producing microscopic hairs that no amount of blow-drying can puff up to a manly pouffe.
That's the bad news. The good news is that the stem cells are present and accounted for, raising hopes that a topical medication might be developed to restore the cells to their former hair-raising manliness. "The fact that there are normal numbers of stem cells in [a] bald scalp gives us hope for reactivating those stem cells," said lead researcher Dr. George Cotsarelis of the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine.
Article comments
1 - El Bicho
While I love the fact that the picture you used may upset some Househeads, it is stunningly disappointing to read researchers are wasting their time on this unless a full head of hair can combat cancer.
2 - zingzing
"unless a full head of hair can combat cancer."
there's a vein of really tasteless jokes to be tapped there.
3 - Jon Sobel
Hey, don't disparage these heroic scientists. After all, doesn't our entire economy run on products that feed our vanity?
4 - Jon Sobel
Come to think of it, a full head of hair protects your scalp from getting too much sun, and too much sun can cause skin cancer. QED.
5 - El Bicho
will the invigorated stem cells be able to keep hair intact while the body undergoes chemo?