Skip to main content

Korean scientists discover potential cure for baldness

INQUIRER.net Stock Photo

Male pattern baldness continues to be the plight for men around the world, but a group of South Korean scientists may have found the cure.

Researchers from Yonsei University in Seoul have unraveled a potential drug candidate that aggressively targets the protein that blocks hair follicle growth.

The exciting discovery, as per The Korea Herald, may soon pioneer new forms of hair-loss treatments, which are currently limited to growth acceleration and delay of hair loss, rather than complete regeneration.

Funded by the Korean Ministry of Science, a team led by professor Choi Kang-yell has come up with a protein called CXXC-type zinc finger protein 5, which can bind the disheveled protein that triggers hair loss.

"This newly developed substance is a first-in-class drug candidate. It is expected to become a treatment for not only hair loss and baldness but also for regenerating damaged skin tissue," Choi explained.

Through these findings, the group managed to develop the biochemical substance, PTD-DBM, which prevents CXXC from binding with the badness-causing protein.

"Disrupting the CXXC5-Dishevelled interaction with a competitor peptide activated the Wnt/β-catenin pathway and accelerated hair regrowth and wound-induced hair follicle neogenesis," an excerpt from the paper "Targeting of CXXC5 by a Competing Peptide Stimulates Hair Re-growth and Wound-Induced Hair Neogenesis" read.

Meanwhile, Professor Choi clarified that their findings were different from existing studies like MSD's Propecia (finasteride), which simply slows down hair loss and cannot be applied to subjects with no hair follicles left.

The group is also aiming to forego typical side effects of hair-loss treatments, including impotence and abnormal ejaculation, caused by hormonal imbalances.

The group's complete findings were published in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology last month.  Khristian Ibarrola /ra

RELATED STORIES:

Cancer researchers accidentally discover 'cure' for baldness, gray hair

Bald men deemed more confident and masculine, study finds

Subscribe to INQUIRER PLUS to get access to The Philippine Daily Inquirer & other 70+ titles, share up to 5 gadgets, listen to the news, download as early as 4am & share articles on social media. Call 896 6000.

For feedback, complaints, or inquiries, contact us.
Source: Korean scientists discover potential cure for baldness

Comments

Popular Posts

How Long Does Postpartum Hair Loss Last?

After you have a baby, there's hardly time for yourself. Showers are few and far between, meals are generally eaten while standing in the kitchen, and fixing your hair is out of the question. But while your hair is probably the last thing on your mind, it is part of an issue that not enough people talk about: postpartum hair loss. Dr. Heather Hawthorne, MD and board-certified family physician at Doctor On Demand, spoke to POPSUGAR about postpartum hair loss, which affects a lot more women than most people realise. What Is Postpartum Hair Loss? During pregnancy, a lot of women may start to feel like Rapunzel due to their hair growing so fast and strong that you feel it could hoist a handsome prince up a tower (wouldn't that be great?). "Many women notice longer, more voluminous hair during pregnancy thanks to pregnancy hormone spikes trapping hair in the growth (anagen) phase of the hair cycle," Dr. Hawthorne explained. "But drastic postpartum hormone shi

Best Hair Regrowth Treatments Available in the Market

Hello, buddies! Hope everything is going good at your end! I am super excited about today's post because it will surely help thousands of people dealing with the problem. Hair fall is one among the most common problems every one of us suffers from. From unhygienic hair condition to hormonal issues and genetic problems, there are many reasons behind the hair fall of a person. Regardless of origin and ethnicity, baldness is a condition that affects the majority of the population. The only upside to this is that there are many treatments available in the market which can help to treat this issue. From laser treatments to taking proper medicines, there are many treatments that can help in the hair regrowth. Check out the best hair regrowth treatments available. 1. Laser Treatments: Laser treatment is quite common, popular and effective hair growth treatment available in the market which gives you guaranteed results. Laser treatments can help to prevent hair

A Breakthrough for Hair Loss! PGD2 and Natural Ways to Regrow Your Hair

In 2012, the dermatology departments of the University of Pennsylvania and Johns Hopkins University generated a lot of buzz around a potential "miracle cure" for baldness. The big discovery? A relationship between prostaglandin D2 (a fatty acid derivative) and male pattern baldness, and hair loss in women. The researchers demonstrated, for the first time in humans, that a lipid derivative called prostaglandin D2 was elevated in balding areas – but not in hair-bearing areas – of men with hair loss. More importantly, they also discovered that prostaglandin D2 inhibits hair lengthening. The more prostaglandin D2 present, the shorter a hair grows. The team suggested that by maybe inhibiting prostaglandin D2 in the scalp, hair loss might be stopped. And that got a lot of hair loss sufferers (and pharmaceutical companies) excited. Prostaglandin-D2 inhibitors were already in trials as a treatment for asthma. It wouldn't be hard to develop a topical for men&#

Fue hair transplant: a confirmed answer of hair loss

It has been noticed that most people of individuals are afraid to brush their hair simply due to hair loss. The ratio of sufferers of hair loss is increasing day-by-day. In case your hair fall is restrained to one hundred strands on day by day foundation then it isn't always an issue. However if it exceeds then it's far an problem that desires to be resolved. This is referred to as the global widespread, however, there can be some underline causes of hair loss. If you are dealing with intense hair loss then hair transplant would be the quality choice for you. Fue hair transplant Fue hair transplant is considered as a only remedy to get a everlasting approach to your hair loss. The fashion of hair healing greater in human beings with the passage of time. The improvements of technology carry focus amongst people regarding data of hair transplant. Fue hair remedy well-knownshows more high-quality outcomes at the bald region of guys as compared to women. The motive is

6 Ways to Stop Hair Loss, According to Science

Here are the best ways to keep what you've got. (Getty) Statistics show that by the age of 35, around 66 percent of men lose a considerable amount of hair, and by 55, 85 percent of men have significant hair loss...by which I mean bald or balding. I'm really sorry, but that means there's a giant chance you're either going to go completely bald, or at least partially.  And even though it's not the end of the world if (or when) you lose your hair, it's certainly not pleasant to go through, and it can take a huge shit on your self-esteem. Life is mean, isn't it? However, if it's any consolation, it's actually been scientifically proven that women totally dig bald dudes and get all hot in the panties for them, because they see baldies as smarter, more dominant, and overall way sexier than men who still have a perfect head of hair.  But if that's not enough solace to make you come to terms with going bald, there are some science-backed ways to try a