The discovery of a chemical that controls the division of hair follicles and treats baldness

At a time when millions of people around the world suffer from baldness, a recent study has found a possible way to treat it, so what is it?

For several years, health experts have been working on a cure for baldness. Several studies suggest that baldness in men may be due to genetic causes. Finally, it seems that the efforts of health experts in this field have yielded a potential method for treating baldness.

A recent study reported by Deutsche Welle revealed that a chemical is the key to controlling the timing of hair follicle division and death, adding that this discovery will treat baldness and also speed up wound healing because follicles are a source of stem cells, according to the University of California website, citing the study. Published in the specialized scientific journal "Biophysical Journal".

The study examined hair follicles because they are the only human organ that renews regularly and automatically, to discover a type of protein called TGF-beta. It turns out that this protein controls how stem cells in hair follicles divide, and why do some of them die?

"Our new research brings us closer to understanding stem cell behavior so that we can control it," said University of California sports biologist Qichuan Wang, a co-author of the study. "TGF-beta has two opposite roles." It helps in activating some hair follicle cells and, later, helps in regulating the process of programmed cell death.

"Even when hair follicles kill themselves, they never kill their stock of stem cells. When the remaining stem cells receive a signal to regenerate, they divide, make a new cell and develop."

The recent study stated that despite the death of the hair follicles, the reservoir of stem cells remains, and added that stimulating hair growth may be possible by activating the stem cells of the follicles, and she added that this position requires more research, according to the same source.

Causes of baldness

There are a number of reasons that cause baldness. Genetic factors come at the forefront of these reasons. There are also other causes, including: malnutrition, infections, and some psychological conditions.

It is noteworthy that a previous study conducted between 2013 and 2017 concluded that there is a relationship between baldness and increased working hours. It was found that the increase in working hours increases the rate of baldness due to the hormones secreted by the body due to stress, which results from long working hours and lack of rest time, according to the German "T Online" website.