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Baldness Be Gone?

Posted by michael on from the not-just-the-president-of-hair-club-for-men dept.

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."

4 of 46 comments (clear)

  1. ./beach by wjvdt · · Score: 5, Funny

    ..."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," she said.

    How will we be able to recognize our fellow /.'ers at the beach in this new world?

    --
    "If I were punished for every pun I shed, there would not be left a puny shed of my punnish head." - Samuel Johnson
  2. Oh joy! by psyconaut · · Score: 4, Funny

    This appears on /, the day AFTER I shaved my head!!!

    -psy

  3. Re:Finally!!! by Simon+Field · · Score: 4, Insightful


    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.

    --

    Free book: Science Toys You Can Make

  4. This poses interesting valid questions by SolemnDragon · · Score: 5, Insightful
    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?

    --
    "I'd say 'Have a good time,' but arson is still illegal.