Q: ScalpMed is supposed to unclog pores. How does this prevent hair loss?

A: The active ingredient of ScalpMed is Minoxidil, which will help reverse miniaturization, the process that causes androgenetic hair loss. Hair loss is not caused by clogged pores, so unclogging them will not prevent going bald. Minoxidil, which is also the active ingredient in Rogaine is over-the-counter so it is a less expensive way to use the active ingredient.

Q: I use Nizoral for my dandruff. Does it work for hair loss too?

A: The active ingredient in Nizoral is Ketoconazole. This medication, originally developed to treat fungus infections, has slight anti-androgen action. It is supposed to work in hair loss by inhibiting the action of DHT on hair follicles. Although, in theory, it should be useful for androgenetic hair loss, there have not been conclusive scientific studies to show that it works to treat balding when used as a topical application for balding.

Following some new research on stem cells, and their relationship with androgenetic alopecia (genetic hair loss), an article on stem cells and the way they organize hair growth was published in the April 29th issue of the journal Science. At issue is the way in which large numbers of stem cells coordinate the cycle of hair growth over thousands of hair follicles. How do all of those hair follicle stem cells know when to grow hair, and how do they know what their “neighbor” hair follicles are doing? Read more by viewing the full post.

In the March/April 2011 issue of Hair Transplant Forum International we see a review of research on stem cells and progenitor cells, and another indication of the importance of this research in achieving the goal of being able to clone human hair. Read more about this exciting line of research.