Khaberni - A research team from National Taiwan University is close to achieving a medical breakthrough that could revolutionize hair loss treatment.
The researchers successfully developed a simple topical serum that restored hair growth within just 20 days in mouse trials, amidst hopes of making it soon available to humans as an over-the-counter cosmetic product.
The new serum relies on natural, safe fatty acids, which work by stimulating the fat cells in the skin to activate the stem cells inside hair follicles, thereby restoring the natural growth cycle. The researchers confirmed that these substances do not cause skin irritation, unlike the chemicals used in traditional chemical treatments.
Professor Sung-Jan Lin, head of the research team, stated that he tried an early version of the formula on his legs for three weeks and noted significant hair growth, which has boosted the team's confidence in the effectiveness of their innovation.
During laboratory experiments, researchers observed that minor surface injuries or mild inflammations naturally stimulate hair growth, a phenomenon called "hypertrichosis." From this discovery, they were able to identify the vital role of fatty acids in reactivating the follicles.
The findings published in the "Cell Metabolism" journal indicate that these monounsaturated fatty acids, such as oleic acid and palmitoleic acid, when applied topically, proved their ability to grow hair without the need for any skin irritants, thus enhancing the chances of developing a safe treatment free from serious side effects.
The team has already patented the composition and plans to test it on the scalp of volunteers to determine the optimal doses before commercially releasing it, although no timeline has been announced yet.
These results come at a time when millions of people around the world are searching for effective solutions for baldness, especially since available treatments, such as minoxidil and finasteride, may cause undesirable side effects including depression and sexual performance disorders.
Professor Lin confirms that the presence of these acids in natural sources, whether in human fatty tissues or in plant oils, makes their use very safe, as early tests on human follicles in the laboratory have shown promising results.
These developments coincide with other global efforts, including stem cell treatments in Madrid and medical products under development in Taiwanese companies, all promising a new era of hair regrowth technologies.
As the world awaits the results of clinical tests on humans, experts believe that this serum could be a lifeline for millions suffering from hereditary hair loss or skin diseases associated with baldness.
