A new protein has been discovered that deals with hair-loss. The new discovery might bring new hope for those who are losing their hair. Researchers say drugs could possibly block the protein’s activity and provide substantial treatment for men with male pattern baldness.
The new discovery will most likely only help those men who have started to lose their hair, not those who have existing male pattern baldness. The discovery was made by researchers after they carried out a number of tests on tissue located on the scalp of 22 men. The men all had male pattern baldness, also referred to as AGA – adrogenic alopecia.
Tissue taken from areas of the scalp that were bald had over three times the content of PGD2 protein as tissue from areas of the scalp that were still hairy. When the protein was added to hair follicles in laboratory studies of both mice and humans it blocked hair growth.
Researchers have located 10 drugs that will block the receptor and could help provide new treatments for baldness. The form of these drugs will likely be topical ointments or creams.
Researchers from the U.S. said, “Our discovery means new treatments for the world’s most common cause of male hair loss will be available.”
