The Daily Mail, a popular British periodical, recently did a feature on the use of extracellular matrix (ECM) products on soldiers injured in Afghanistan.   ECM is derived from the porcine membrane of bladder and can be used as a regenerative medicine.  The Daily Mail article claims that it has even been used to save soldiers who were so badly injured at war that they risked amputation.  In one example, the ECM product was used to repair a massive leg wound; it was able to grow nerves, muscles and ordinary tissue where there had been none.

ACell is just one variety of ECM recently FDA-approved for use in humans.  When applied to injured tissue, ACell can stimulate the regeneration of normal tissue.  Several pioneering hair transplant surgeons took an early interest in ACell and have been studying possible uses for the product as it relates to hair restoration.  Doctors Jerry Cooley and Gary Hitzig released some of the first reports about their findings on whether ACell might be beneficial for strip surgery patients.  Unfortunately, at this time, their reports are inconclusive.

Dr. Cole has been following news of ACell since 2007.  Now that it is indicated for safe use in humans, he is researching ACell as it relates to his Cole Isolation Technique (CIT) patients.  He is currently exploring whether the use of ACell may reduce the appearance of hypopigmentation, the tiny white spotting that some FUE and CIT patients develop when grafts are removed from the donor region.  Dr. Cole is hopeful that ACell may help to improve melanocyte stimulation, and to improve the overall appearance of the donor area.

A secondary interest Dr. Cole has in ACell is whether it will stimulate cells left behind when grafts are extracted, and possibly induce the development of new hair growth.  The hope is that, through the delivery of ACell to our extraction sites, he will be able to attract and induce hair follicle stem cells to reproduce a re-growth of the extracted follicles.  At this time, Dr. Cole has not yet seen any evidence that ACell promotes any new hair growth.  The objective going forward is to unlock the specific methods necessary to regenerate hair.  Given that ACell has already successfully regenerated muscle, skin, nerves, specific organ tissue, etc., it is reasonable to suspect that it should be able to regenerate hair.  The challenge lies in engineering a specific means of delivering the product to the appropriate stem cells.

To read the complete Daily Mail article, click here: Magic ‘Pixie Dust’ made from pig bladders helps ‘regrow’ limbs of wounded soldiers If you have any questions about ACell or treatments available through the Cole Hair Restoration Group, feel free to call us at 1-800-368-4247.

Research, by Leif Carlsson and his research team at Umea University in Sweden, indicates that activation of the gene Lhx2 leads to increased hair growth.

In their recent study, Leif Carlsson and his research team identified the transcription factor Lhx2 as an important regulator of hair formation. It was found that the Lhx2 gene is active during the anagen (growth) phase and dormant during the resting period.  It has been shown that Lhx2 is involved in the formation of hair because hair follicles in which Lhx2 is inactive are not able to produce hair growth. In fact, activation of the Lhx2 gene in hair follicles appears to activate the growth phase and thus the formation of hair. Lhx2 is therefore considered to be a gene that is important for the regulation of hair growth.

Hair serves a number of commonly overlooked purposes: it is important for temperature regulation, physical protection, sensory activity, seasonal camouflage, and social interactions. Hair is formed in hair follicles, which are formed during fetal development.  New hair is generated in a cycle whereby the hair follicle undergoes recession, rest and growth.  Hair length is determined by the duration of the anagen phase.

Gene That Regulates Hair Growth Identified

Newly Identified Skin Stem Cells Strikingly Similar to Those Found in Embryos

Recent findings show that a new type of stem cell found in the skin acts similarly to certain stem cells found in embryos.  Like embryos, these stem cells can generate fat, bone, cartilage, and even nerve cells. According to HHMI International Research Scholar, Freda Miller, these newly-identified dermal cells may prove useful for treating persistent wounds or even neurological disorder. These cells were first noticed several years ago in rodents and humans but have only now been confirmed as stem cells. These cells are capable of self-renewal and can even grow into cell types that make up the skin’s dermal layer under the right conditions. This is particularly interesting in our industry because the dermal stem cells also appear to help form the basis for hair growth.  This new work was published in its entirety December 4, 2009, in the journal Cell Stem Cells.
Read more Adult Stem Cells Convert ...

I have heard that it is possible through gene therapy and biological methods to make straight here permanent curly. Do you know if this is on the market yet for cosmetic purposes and if so please can you provide contact details of the clinics.

There are many potential gene therapies being investigated now. One company in San Diego (which researchers do not name) is supposedly working on a cream to help regrow hair using gene therapy. They evidently are also working on one to turn grey hair back to its dark original color, and one to cause a “permanent permanent” (straight hair turned curly). These are a ways off from being released to the public, if they even prove to be effective.
If they do work, at least partially, they would then have to go through FDA approval, which may take years and cost tens of millions of dollars (although there would certainly be plenty of investors in a product that would cure baldness, for example).
Also, there are many ethical questions that are only now being raised regarding gene therapy. Some have to do with creating “cosmetic or aesthetic perfection” for those who can afford it, and creating an underclass of “cosmetically challenged” humans, who cannot.

Certainly no one is going to forbid someone from marketing a cure for baldness, or a “genetic permanent”; however, these possibilities are at this point just that: possibilities. The press tends to take these things and run with them, but they are often exaggerated and made to seem closer to mass consumption than they really are.

I am 27 and first noticed that i had hair loss about 24..My dad also has hair loss so its should be caused by genetic. About 1 year ago,i already had very little hair . I have been using Minoxidil 5 %, and Propecia, and it helps to control the hair loss but recently i realize that there is excessive hair loss even though i use it faithfully. I tried other ways of different treatment but i dun see any results. I recently saw this product “provillus’,its main ingredient is saw palmetto. It is said that it is similar to propecia but it doesn’t affect your sex drive ,Is this true? Can you please advise me on what other methods can i try,i recently just bought a laser set,do you think it will be useful?

Hair Loss is a multi-factorial problem. This is probably why some people respond well to DHT inhibitors such as Propecia and why others do not respond as well. Some people respond well to Minoxidil or Rogaine, while others do not. We recommend treating your hair loss with as many options as possible to cover as many potential causes of hair loss as possible.

You can purchase saw palmetto over the counter in a health food store and take the pills each day. Saw palmetto is a DHT blocker. We recommend you use this.

We also recommend you shampoo with Nizoral Shampoo at least once a week. Leave the product on for 5 minutes prior to rinsing. The product is a topical agent so it needs skin contact to do its job. We also recommend Hair Cycle shampoo and conditioner 4 to 5 times per week. Again, leave this product on 5 minutes prior to rinsing. Hair Cycle is an anagen stimulator so it will help you keep the hair in the growing phase longer. This should help you prolong the life of your hair. Hair Cycle is also healthier for your scalp since it lacks sodium laurel sulfate, which is the agent creating lather in most shampoos. This lather is the equivalent to engine degreaser and it is not healthy.

Other products you might consider include topical spironolactone.

The laser comb is expensive, but should help. We are working on a less expensive model.

You might find that decreasing the dosage of your Propecia to three times a week on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday has less of an affect on your sex drive.

Please note that Rogaine Foam is a new version of topical minoxidil and seems to produce less skin irritation. It also is better absorbed and does not leave your hair oily or greasy the way most minoxidil solutions do.