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There are very few topical treatments for hair loss. However, clinical trials are currently in progress to test whether a chemical in the glaucoma drug Lumigan could help re-grow scalp hair.
Lumigan is a drug that reduces pressure in the eyes of glaucoma patients to help prevent blindness.
A few years ago, it was found that one of the side effects of the active ingredient in Lumigan called bimatoprost was increased eyelash hair growth.
Bimatoprost was then formulated in a new product called Latisse and sold as a way to increase eyelash hair length and thickness.
Scientists are now testing to see if bimatoprost could have the same effect on the scalp and re-grow hair on the head.
Lead scientist Professor Valerie Randall from the University of Bradford told Mirror.co.UK, "We wanted to see whether it would have the same effect on scalp hair, as the two types of follicle are very different.”
Randall said, "Our findings show that bimatoprost does stimulate growth in human scalp hair follicles and therefore could offer a new approach for treating hair loss disorders."
The researchers are from the University of Bradford in the United Kingdom, Farjo Medical Centre in the United Kingdom, and health company Allergan in the United States. Allergan is the maker of Lumigan. Professor Randall works for them as a consultant.
So far three experiments have been carried out.
Two of them involved human cells that were either kept in an organ culture or on the scalps of cosmetic surgery patient volunteers. The third test was performed on bald skin areas on mice. In all cases, hair growth occurred.
According to Mailonline.com, the hair “follicles treated with bimatoprost grew a third more hair than untreated samples in just nine days.”
Scalp hair follicles were determined to have the same type of receptors as eyelash hair follicles. Professor Randall said as long as the drug can be applied in a way to reach scalp hair follicles, then it should stimulate hair growth.
Phase II clinical trials are currently in progress in the United States and Germany.
Add a Comment3 Comments
I used segel solution and it really worked. i have quite thick and dense hairs on my scalp. earlier people have started noticing the very poor hair density on mytop of my head. Now i feel really good when it the problem has been solved. There is no side effect either but one need to use with recommended dose only and should wash it within 8 hours. if you miss washing it then you may feel little heaviness on head. Bur overall it is really really good.
March 2, 2013 - 10:19pmThis Comment
These have a lot of side-effects. But I recently came across a product called Segals Solutions from India. It is a blend of natural extracts, that work as safe substitutes to various drugs. It has worked like a miracle for me. Believe me, 4 months it took to make my vertex area dense like 3 years hence. I got it through ebay and the parent site is segalsolutionsindia.com
December 24, 2012 - 1:00amthis reminds me of another drug that they found the side effects caused hair growth and now people are using it to prevent hair loss and promotes hair growth it is called ketoconazole, and a lot of hair loss shampoos have it. the best one i like to use is regenepure i always get it on www.regenepure.com
December 18, 2012 - 11:52am