Baldness Be Gone?

efudddd writes "Science Daily has an interesting article about a new Nature paper; two chemical signals that turn stem cells into hair follicles have been identified. Implications are wider than just hair regrowth."

Comments

Re:Finally!!!

[Simon Field]

Indeed.

"These studies raise the possibility that drugs to activate these natural factors could promote hair follicle growth in wanted places, and inhibitory drugs could prevent hair growth in unwanted places"

I love it that the name for a chemical signal involved in baldness is called "noggin".

As a balding guy who isn't that worried about it, I also like the idea that those people who are worried enough to spend a lot of money on baldness cures, will also be funding research into squamous cell carcinomas. I am much more concerned about losing someone to skin cancer than losing my hair.

This poses interesting valid questions

[SolemnDragon]

such as
-Is this going to lead to genuine cancer-related research, or are they going to go straight for the money and fame of introducing the latest chia-hair?
I'm thinking of Botox, and how it can be used for treating genuine muscular ailments, but is most widely known for its wrinkle-smoothing face-paralysing capacity...

On the other hand, i guess i know the sad but true answer to this one: the research follows the money. So Maybe we aren't looking for a cure for Melanoma here... but the bald might die prettier??

Cynicism aside, this IS serious stuff, and we COULD be looking at a way to deal with more serious skin ailments, and it will certainly put a damper on the serious scars that people are still occasionally getting from laser hair removal, or those home electrolysis kits.... (talk about a dangerous product) How long before we have do-it-yourself home stem-cell-into-hair-follicle sets?