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
During one of Tiger Woods’ recent press appearances, he said that he had received PRP, or platelet rich plasma, treatments:
Posted on NBC news: Tiger Admits to Platelet-Rich Plasma Therapy, What’s That?
PRP treatments have grown increasingly common in the sports medicine world in recent years. During a PRP procedure, the patient’s blood is drawn and put in a centrifuge to separate out platelet-containing plasma from the red blood cells. The plasma is then injected back into the patient’s injury. PRP treatment is thought to accelerate and/or maximize the signals an injury site sends to the body in order to continue the healing process.
At The Cole Hair Transplant, Dr. Cole now provides PRP treatment to our hair transplant patients. The PRP is administered in the form of injections into the extraction sites to improve dermal healing. For hair transplant purposes, PRP could potentially help reduce the occurrence of hypopigmentation (“white spotting”) among some of our patients. We are also investigating evidence that PRP treatment may improve graft yield; one study found PRP improved graft growth by as much as 15%. We will continue to explore the possibilities and benefits that PRP may provide for our patients. To learn more about PRP, feel free to call The Cole Hair Transplant group at 1-800-368-4247.
A past CIT patient recently contacted us to ask about a small pimple-like bump on his frontal hairline with a tiny hair fragment on top. He mentioned that, immediately following the procedure, he had noticed a few other such bumps but that they disappeared within a few days. This patient wanted to know if a particular medication or treatment could remedy the issue.
This is a fairly common occurrence following a hair transplant procedure. These “bumps” are due to retained hair fragments following surgery. Patients commonly mistake them for ingrown hairs but they are actually a sign that new hairs are trying to grow in where old non-growing fragments are still present. Medication will not help but the good news is that there’s a very simple treatment for it. The patient simply needs to use a pair of tweezers to remove any short, non-growing hair fragments from the scalp. These non-growing fragments should slide out easily. Another possible treatment is to scrub the scalp with soap and a wash cloth to try and remove any non-growing hair fragments. These “bumps” are absolutely nothing to be concerned about and actually indicate that new hair is trying to come in.
The millions of hair loss sufferers out there might be intrigued to hear about an exciting new study suggest that a receding hairline might be a good thing. Researchers at the University of Washington School of Medicine say that men who experien
ce significant hair loss by the age of 30 appear less likely to develop prostate cancer. This study, published in the journal Cancer Epidemiology, surveyed 2,000 men between the ages of 40 and 47. Half of the study participants had suffered prostate cancer. Men who developed bald spots on their crown, as well as a receding hairline, had a 29% to 45% reduction in the risk of developing prostate cancer. Researchers linked high levels of the male hormone testosterone, found in men who lose their hair earlier, with a lower risk of tumors.
By the age of 30, 25% to 30% of men are thought to experience some level of hair loss. Half of all men experience hair loss by the age of 50. Baldness is commonly attributed to excessive dihydrotestosterone (DHT) exposed to the hair follicles. DHT is produced by the male hormone testosterone. Experts believe that men with high levels of testosterone are more likely to lose their hair, particularly if they a familial predisposition.
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