Drugs used in cancer, arthritis may help fight hair loss

Two drugs -- one approved for use in arthritis and the other approved for cancer -- may also hold potential for boosting hair growth, new animal research suggests.
"The ultimate potential is a very effective topical product to rub on the scalp to help with all types of hair loss," said Dr. Luis Garza, an associate professor of dermatology at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, who's familiar with the study findings. But he added, "More work needs to be done to translate these findings to a product which can be tested in a clinical trial on people."
In the current study, researchers from Columbia University in New York City tested the drugs only on mice, including some with patches of human skin. If the medications work, it's not clear how much of the drugs may be needed for humans. It's also important to note that findings that look promising in animal research don't always work out as well when tested in humans. Previously, however, the researchers looked at a specific type of hair loss caused by an autoimmune skin condition called alopecia areata. In that research, the drugs were shown to promote hair regrowth in both mice and people, the study authors said.
Findings from the current study appear Oct. 23 in the journal Science Advances.
About 80 million people in the United States have thinning hair or are bald, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. Treatments, such as Rogaine, are available for hair loss, but they have limited powers. They tend to stimulate hair follicles into growing longer instead of producing the "peach fuzz" common on the heads of men with male-pattern baldness, according to study co-author Angela Christiano, an associate professor of molecular dermatology at Columbia.
HealthDay

Drugs used in cancer, arthritis may help fight hair loss

Two drugs -- one approved for use in arthritis and the other approved for cancer -- may also hold potential for boosting hair growth, new animal research suggests. The ultimate potential is a very effective topical product to rub on the scalp to help with all types of hair loss, said Dr. Luis Garza, an associate professor of dermatology at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, whos familiar with the study findings. But he added, More work needs to be done to translate these findings to a product which can be tested in a clinical trial on people. In the current study, researchers from Columbia University in New York City tested the drugs only on mice, including some with patches of human skin. If the medications work, its not clear how much of the drugs may be needed for humans. Its also important to note that findings that look promising in animal research dont always work out as well when tested in humans. Previously, however, the researchers looked at a specific type of hair loss caused by an autoimmune skin condition called alopecia areata. In that research, the drugs were shown to promote hair regrowth in both mice and people, the study authors said. Findings from the current study appear Oct. 23 in the journal Science Advances. About 80 million people in the United States have thinning hair or are bald, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. Treatments, such as Rogaine, are available for hair loss, but they have limited powers. They tend to stimulate hair follicles into growing longer instead of producing the peach fuzz common on the heads of men with male-pattern baldness, according to study co-author Angela Christiano, an associate professor of molecular dermatology at Columbia. HealthDay