Hair Cloning

In an effort to help the more than 80 million Americans experiencing hair loss, researchers are investigating a process known as hair follicle cloning, or multiplication. In theory, this procedure would require taking a person's hair follicle cells, multiplying them in a laboratory, and then injecting them back into the patient's scalp.

For now, the procedure is only being conducted in animal research, said Kurt Stenn, MD, chief scientific officer at Aderans Research Institute in Philadelphia. "Several labs around the world are working on it. There are claims that it's being done in humans, but there are no published data supporting this."

Overall, animal studies indicate that the prospects of hair multiplication are very promising, he said.

Understanding hair follicle multiplication requires a basic knowledge of hair biology. The follicle is the living part of the hair and is located in the skin. The shaft is the part of the hair that is visible. The growth of hair occurs at the base of the follicle, where cells divide rapidly, creating keratin, a protein that makes up the hair shaft.

According to the American Academy of Dermatology, hair loss is caused by age, hormones and genes passed on from either the maternal or paternal side, or both. Hereditary hair loss is marked by miniaturized hair follicles and a shortened hair growth cycle.

Stop Hair Loss

In order to stop hair loss it is necessary to slow the hair loss rate to the point where healthy hair replacement exceeds hair loss. Genetically, balding heads can grow hair, either through hair loss treatments (such as finasteride or minoxidl) or treating skin and scalp with a hair loss remedy.

The major cause of common baldness is the increase of DHT in the body. DHT is produced by a combination of enzymes on the scalp and components of the body. By blocking either/or the internal or external production of DHT, hair loss can be reduced, thereby leading to the re-emergence of healthy hair growth.

Maintaining a healthy hormonal balance is important to stop hair loss. Hair growth is very sensitive to an imbalance of male hormones (androgens) and female hormones (estrogen). An excess of testosterone can cause hair loss in women during menopause or after a full hysterectomy. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT), or in some cases the use of birth control pills, helps to improve a woman's skin, nails and female hair loss.

Maintaining good nutrition is another factor in hair loss prevention. Vitamins help stop hair loss. The vitamin B complex contains components (inositol and biotin) that affect hair loss and hair growth. It has been shown that a diet lacking in inositol may be a nutritional factor leading to hair loss. Biotin is also understood to prevent hair loss. Biotin metabolizes with fatty acids, which are essential to growth of the body, including hair follicles. Omega 3 fatty acids (good sources are mackerel and salmon) are thought to be part of the process of maintaining healthy hair follicles. A severe deficiency in zinc can lead to hair loss. Replacement of zinc for hair loss is best administered through zinc sulphate in doses of 30 -150 mg per day.

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