Sugar that naturally occurs in the human body stimulates hair growth, scientists discover in breakthrough that could benefit millions of men
- Scientists have discovered a natural sugar that promotes healthy hair growth
- The treatment works by promoting the growth of blood vessels in the skin
The fear of going bald is something that weighs on the minds, and scalps, of millions of men around the world.
But if you’re anxiously checking your hairline, there is finally good news as scientists have found a potential cure for male pattern baldness.
Researchers from the University of Sheffield and COMSATS University Pakistan discovered that a sugar which occurs naturally in our bodies can stimulate hair growth in mice.
The sugar, 2-deoxy-D-ribose (2dDR), was just as effective at restoring hair to the balding rodents as commercially available drug minoxidil, also known as Rogaine.
Professor Sheila MacNeil, of the University of Sheffield, says: ‘This could offer another approach to treating this condition which can affect men’s self-image and confidence.’
The researchers had not originally set out to find a cure for baldness, but were rather investigating whether the sugar 2dDR could help improve wound healing.
When applied to the skin in the form of a gel, the sugar triggers increased growth of blood vessels which they hoped would cause cuts to close faster.
However, they soon noticed that the mice’s hair grew back much faster in the areas around the wound where the gel had been applied.
Intrigued, the research team decided to conduct an experiment to determine whether 2dDR could have an effect on male pattern baldness.
Mice were treated with testosterone to induce ‘testosterone-driven hair loss’ which is similar to male pattern balding in humans.
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