New Study , Identifies Root Cause , of Hair Loss.<br />'The Independent' reports that a new study <br />suggests that a single chemical could <br />determine whether or not people go bald. .<br />The study by the University of California <br />says the discovery could, "not only treat baldness, but <br />ultimately speed wound healing.”.<br />In science fiction when characters <br />heal quickly from injuries, <br />the idea is that stem cells allowed it, Qixuan Wang, study co-author, via 'The Independent'.<br />In real life, our new research gets <br />us closer to understanding stem cell <br />behavior, so that we can control it <br />and promote wound healing, Qixuan Wang, study co-author, via 'The Independent'.<br />According to the research, the team discovered<br />a type of protein called TGF-beta which controls <br />how the stem cells in hair follicles divide.<br />It also determines why some of those follicles, which are the only human organ to regenerate regularly and automatically, can die off.<br />TGF-beta has two opposite roles. <br />It helps activate some hair follicle cells <br />to produce new life, and later, <br />it helps orchestrate apoptosis, <br />the process of cell death, Qixuan Wang, study co-author, via 'The Independent'.<br />Even when a hair follicle kills itself, <br />it never kills its stem cell reservoir. <br />When the surviving stem cells <br />receive the signal to regenerate, <br />they divide, make new cell <br />and develop into a new follicle, Qixuan Wang, study co-author, via 'The Independent'.<br />The study's authors suggest that the discovery <br />could be used to stimulate hair growth <br />by activating stem cells in follicles.<br />The study was published <br />in the 'Biophysical Journal.'
