If we compare our hair to grass, then the hair follicle is the root of the grass, also known as the "seed".

In fact, the root cause of hair loss is mostly in the hair follicles, taking the most common clinical androgenetic alopecia, also known as seborrheic alopecia, as an example, clinical research shows that the root cause of this type of hair loss is believed to be the existence of structural congenital defects in the hair follicles on the top of the head, the degeneration and atrophy of the hair follicles, causing thinning, thinning and softening of the hair. Clinical seborrheic alopecia is characterized by the gradual transformation of terminal hairs into vellus hairs, resulting in diffuse hair thinning and hairline regression.

(Hair becomes thin and soft and eventually falls out)

As a result, research into hair loss and new therapies for hair loss treatment has expanded in recent years to include the fields of hair tissue engineering and stem cells. Previously, a study published in Exp Dermatol entitled "Exosomes derived from human dermal papilla cells promote hair growth in cultured human hair follicles and augment the hair-inductive capacity of cultured dermal papilla spheres," showed that exosomes can repair damaged hair follicles and promote hair growth and regrowth by regulating the activity of dermal and epidermal cells of hair follicles.

In clinical practice, a number of stem cell exosomes have also been used in hair loss treatment in recent years.

The 40-year-old Mr. Chen hair loss has been eight or nine years, has received minoxidil treatment, also did a hair transplant, the initial effect is really good, but the subsequent two or three years, hair loss continues, and more and more hair loss, the top of the scalp more and more bald visible. Later, Mr. Chen decided to try stem cell exosome treatment, hoping to regenerate hair follicles so that hair can grow out again.

What exactly is a stem cell exosome? What does it have to do with stem cells? How effective is it for hair loss treatment?

(Hair follicles, the key to hair growth)

Stem cell exosome therapy: a new hope for hair loss treatment!

Our hair growth has a certain pattern, its natural cycle mainly contains the growth phase, regression phase and resting phase, the longer the growth phase, the longer the hair will be. Under normal circumstances, hair growth enters a certain stage and then enters the regressive and resting phases, and physiological shedding occurs. Since the hair entering the regressive phase and the new hair entering the anagen phase are constantly in a state of dynamic balance, we are able to maintain a normal amount of hair, as if the water in a pool has both inflow and outflow, and the water in the pool is maintained at a certain volume. Abnormal hair loss occurs when the hair growth and loss cycle is disrupted or when the hair follicle is destroyed and replaced by scar tissue.

After determining Mr. Chen's hair loss grading and hair follicle condition, considering that Mr. Chen has been losing hair for a long time, he was suggested to first undergo a course of six sessions of stem cell exosome combination therapy, with an interval of 3-4 weeks each time, on top of stem cell exosome with other medications to reduce oil secretion and inhibit hair loss factors, after the treatment, Mr. Chen's hair loss situation improved significantly, from the initial thinning hair visible in large bald scalp, to the present increase in hair quantity.

So, what are stem cell exosomes?

Cells, a leading international journal, states that exosomes are extracellular vesicles that are produced by a variety of cells that can be secreted to help perform a large number of cellular functions, including intercellular communication, cell differentiation and proliferation, angiogenesis, stress response, and immune signaling. Exosomes have favorable biological properties, including biocompatibility, stability, and low toxicity, making exosomes a prime candidate for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. Moreover, because stem cell exosomes do not have a nucleus, they are significantly safer than stem cells. At present, stem cell exosomes have developed a number of quite mature products with applications in skin damage repair, pigmentation treatment and hair regeneration therapy.

(Exosomes can be derived from a variety of cells)

Stem cell exosomes, the symptomatic solution to hair loss!

In addition to the above-mentioned Mr. Chen, there are also many clinical cases of stem cell exosome treatment. It is worth noting that due to individual differences, different people have different age, hair loss severity and hair follicle damage, etc. Therefore, the combination of stem cell exosome is mostly used, i.e., other targeted components are compounded at the same time to develop an individualized treatment plan. For example, for some people, stem cell exosomes can be used in combination with medication to inhibit scalp oil, or topical minoxidil, or stem cell exosomes after hair transplantation, to increase the survival rate of hair follicles and improve the chances of success of hair transplantation.

For example, in the following case, a 33-year-old hair loss patient, who had been losing hair for more than 3 years, was clearly diagnosed with seborrheic alopecia, and his hair was particularly oily every day in the afternoon, with more fine and limp hair, so in his case, in addition to stem cell exosomes to promote hair follicle regeneration, we also improved his scalp oil secretion and reduced oil secretion, so as not to block the pores and cause problems with the supply of nutrients to the hair and fall out. After five times of treatment, his hair was restored to its previous dense state.

Compared to traditional hair loss treatments such as topical minoxidil, oral finasteride, and hair transplant surgery, in which minoxidil stimulates hair growth and finasteride inhibits the enzyme 5α reductase, which in turn reduces hair loss, both of these drugs have the disadvantage of slow onset of action and require continuous use, leading to cumulative side effects. Hair transplantation is effective, but the issue of hair follicle survival rate and the inconvenience and high cost of the procedure limit the idea of hair growth for most people. Undoubtedly, stem cell exosomes, as an emerging therapy, offer hope to those who are suffering from hair loss.

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