Why is there no fix for Male Pattern Baldness?

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the challenges of addressing Male Pattern Baldness (MPB), also known as androgenic alopecia, which is primarily caused by the hair follicle's sensitivity to Dihydrotestosterone (DHT). Current treatments like Finasteride (1 mg) and Minoxidil have shown limited effectiveness, with many users reporting only minor results or side effects. Despite advancements in hair transplant techniques, there remains no definitive cure for MPB, leading to ongoing frustration among those affected. The conversation also highlights societal perceptions of baldness and the psychological impact of hair loss on self-esteem.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of androgenic alopecia and its causes
  • Familiarity with Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and its role in hair loss
  • Knowledge of current hair loss treatments, specifically Finasteride and Minoxidil
  • Awareness of hair transplant procedures and their effectiveness
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the long-term effects and efficacy of Finasteride for hair loss
  • Explore advancements in hair transplant technology and techniques
  • Investigate the role of DHT in male pattern baldness and potential treatments
  • Learn about emerging therapies in stem cell research related to hair regeneration
USEFUL FOR

This discussion is beneficial for individuals experiencing male pattern baldness, dermatologists, hair restoration specialists, and anyone interested in the psychological aspects of hair loss and societal perceptions of baldness.

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  • #32
SteamKing said:
I don't know why the medical community is wasting time and resources on trivial problems like curing cancer or fighting infectious disease or birth defects when they should be confronting some really superficial issues like MPB.

Maybe that's what's lacking: people refer to the condition as 'male pattern baldness' when they should be referring to 'MPB'. That makes it sound like something which could strike anyone, anywhere, anytime. There could be an MPB Campaign, Walk for an MPB Cure, Raising MPB Awareness campaigns, the wearing of the Steel Gray Ribbon to show your Support to Find a Cure for MPB.

First time I ever lol'd on PF
 
  • #33
Jamin2112 said:
...

Is MPB just one of those natural aging processes for which there will never be a real fix?

Apparently a "real" medical "fix" is upon the hairline challenged. Expect another 5-10 years of development.

In PNAS:
Claire A. Higgins, James C. Chen, Jane E. Cerise, Colin A. B. Jahoda, and Angela M. Christiano
Feature Article: Microenvironmental reprogramming by three-dimensional culture enables dermal papilla cells to induce de novo human hair-follicle growth
PNAS 2013 ; published ahead of print October 21, 2013

Abstract said:
Growth of de novo hair follicles in adult skin occurs by a process known as hair neogenesis. One way of initiating neogenesis is to place dermal papillae isolated from the hair follicle in contact with an overlying epidermis where they reprogram the epidermis to adopt a follicular fate. This approach, however, has not been successful using cultured human dermal papilla cells in human skin because the cells lose their ability to induce hair growth after expansion in vitro. In this paper, we demonstrate that by manipulating cell culture conditions to establish three-dimensional papilla spheroids, we restore dermal papilla inductivity. We also use several systems biology approaches to gain a comprehensive understanding of the molecular mechanisms that underlie this regenerative process.

One of the researchers has a hair loss condition called alopecia areata:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mfLLkmY_t9k
 
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  • #34
I have a potential project for this forum. It's based on the fact that zinc and copper ions block the effects of DHT on the follicles.

See this study
http://www.researchgate.net/publication/15461544_Cations_inhibit_specifically_type_I_5_alpha-reductase_found_in_human_skin

finasteride and similar drugs prevent the conversion of testosterone into dht. The problem with fin is it goes systemic. The holy grail of hairloss prevention is to block dht locally at the follicle and allow it elsewhere in the body. There is a drug in development which does this but it is years away from release.

last year a couple of nuclear physicists from a top Israel university released a patent in which they talked about blocking dht using ions of copper and zinc. Some photos where leaked of the results and they are impressive. Not full regrowth but results similar to using fin and minox.

using some copper and zinc discs and a bench top power supply it may be possible to deposit ions of zinc and copper into the scalp.
 
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  • #35
A couple thoughts about Baldness:

Why can't they harvest hair Follicles from the face?
 
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