Stem cell clinical trial to grow back hair
http://www.hair123.co.uk/articles/articles/80/1/Stem-cell-clinical-trial-to-grow-back-hair/Page1.html
Jeremy Harkin
Jeremy has enjoyed a varied career in advertising and media. He is now a freelance editorial consultant working with mainstream men's mags and their associated websites.By Jeremy Harkin
Published on 29th April, 2010
A clinical trial was begun nine months ago in Florida using stem cell therapy to grow back hair. First results are positive.
A clinical trial was begun nine months ago in Florida using stem cell therapy to grow back hair. First results are positive.
Nine months ago in Clearwater in Florida approximately 400 men and women began treatment for hair loss with an experimental technique using stem cells. The research is being carried out by Dr Michail Markou who is a specialist in medical and surgical hair restoration.
According to Dr Markou, about 70 to 80 per cent of those participating in the trial are seeing noticeable results. He commented: "It's very encouraging. It works great in patients who are starting to thin - men and women."
Dr Markou explained how the treatment works: "When we draw the blood. We isolate the platelets, which have what we call growth factors in them, and when we inject these into the scalp, what they do is they actually trigger the stem cells of the hair follicle to either thicken or to reproduce."
He was careful to point out, however, that not everyone is a good candidate for the therapy. Men or women who are completely bald have no live follicles left on their scalp so there is no possibility, even using stem cells, to grow the hair back.
Patients in the trial will be tracked for a year, following which it is planned that the data will be published in a medical journal.
Nine months ago in Clearwater in Florida approximately 400 men and women began treatment for hair loss with an experimental technique using stem cells. The research is being carried out by Dr Michail Markou who is a specialist in medical and surgical hair restoration.
According to Dr Markou, about 70 to 80 per cent of those participating in the trial are seeing noticeable results. He commented: "It's very encouraging. It works great in patients who are starting to thin - men and women."
Dr Markou explained how the treatment works: "When we draw the blood. We isolate the platelets, which have what we call growth factors in them, and when we inject these into the scalp, what they do is they actually trigger the stem cells of the hair follicle to either thicken or to reproduce."
He was careful to point out, however, that not everyone is a good candidate for the therapy. Men or women who are completely bald have no live follicles left on their scalp so there is no possibility, even using stem cells, to grow the hair back.
Patients in the trial will be tracked for a year, following which it is planned that the data will be published in a medical journal.