A cure for balding could be on the horizon after scientists have found a new way to make hair grow.

Increasing lactate production genetically accelerates the stem cells in dormant hair follicles to get them growing again, a study on mice showed.

Researchers believe the discovery may lead to new drugs to help people who suffer from alopecia, the medical term for hair loss.

Receding hairlines and thinning crowns can becaused by aging, genetics, hormone imbalance, stress, illness and medications. It may be temporary or permanent.

Before this, no one knew that increasing or decreasing the lactate would have an effect on hair follicle stem cells, said William Lowry, a professor of molecular, cell and developmental biology at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).

Once we saw how altering lactate production in the mice influenced hair growth, it led us to look for potential drugs that could be applied to the skin and have the same effect.

In the study, the researchers found that the metabolic process that takes place in hair follicle stem cells is different from that which takes place in other skin cells.

They discovered that these cells convert glucose into a molecule called pyruvate but this metabolite can take one of two paths.

In can be sent to the powerhouse of a cell (the mitochondria) and used as energy, or the cells can convert it to a different metabolite called lactate the same substance produced during really intense exercise that causes a burning sensation in muscles.

The researchers suspected altering the chemical course of the glucose metabolites could change the behavior of inactive follicles.

Our observations prompted us to examine whether genetically diminishing the entry of pyruvate into the mitochondria would force hair follicle stem cells to make more lactate, and if that would activate the cells and grow hair more quickly, said Dr Heather Christofk, UCLA associate professor of biological chemistry and molecular and medical pharmacology.

To test their theory, the team examined mice that had been genetically engineered to not produce lactate along with those that had been altered to increase lactate production.

They found that blocking lactate prevented hair follicle stem cells from being activated while increasing lactate upped the production of hair.

The team identified two experimental drugs that, when applied to the skin of mice, accelerate hair growth in this way.

These are called RCGD423 and UK5099 and, while they work in different ways, both increased lactate production.

The researchers whose work was published in the journal Nature Cell Biology stress that these medications were used in preclinical tests only.

They have not been tested on humans or approved by the Food and Drug Administration as safe and effective.

Through this study, we gained a lot of interesting insight into new ways to activate stem cells, said Aimee Flores, a predoctoral trainee in Professor Lowrys lab and first author of the study.

The idea of using drugs to stimulate hair growth through hair follicle stem cells is very promising given how many millions of people, both men and women, deal with hair loss.

I think weve only just begun to understand the critical role metabolism plays in hair growth and stem cells in general; Im looking forward to the potential application of these new findings for hair loss and beyond.

Alopecia is the general medical term for hair loss. There are many types of hair loss with different symptoms and causes. Some of the more common types include:

Male-pattern baldness is most common type of hair loss, affecting around half of all men by 50 years of age. It usually starts around the late 20s or early 30s.

It generally follows a pattern of a receding hairline, followed by thinning of the hair on the crown and temples.

It is hereditary and thought to be caused by oversensitive hair follicles, linked to having too much of a certain male hormone.

As well as affecting men, it can sometimes affect women (female-pattern baldness) when hair usually only thins on top of the head.

The causes in women are less well understood, but tends to affect them post menopause.

Alopecia areata causes patches of baldness about the size of a large coin. It can occur at any age, but mostly affects teenagers and young adults. It is caused by a problem with the immune system and has a genetic element.

In most cases, hair will grow back in a few months. But some people go on to develop a more severe form of hair loss, such as:

This is usually caused by complications of another condition, such asdiscoid lupus or scleroderma.

In this type, the hair follicle is completely destroyed and the hair wont grow back.

It occurs in both males and females and mainly adults. It accounts for about 7% of hair loss cases.

This is widespread hair loss that can affect your scalp, face and body.

One of the most common causes of this type of hair loss is chemotherapy. In some cases, other cancer treatments including immunotherapy and radiotherapy may also cause hair loss.

In most cases, hair loss in anagen effluvium is temporary.

This is a common type of alopecia where there is widespread thinning of the hair, rather than specific bald patches. Your hair may feel thinner, but youre unlikely to lose it all and your other body hair isnt usually affected.

It can be caused by your body reacting to hormonal changes, (such as pregnancy), intense emotional stress, intense physical stress, such as childbirth, illness,changes in your diet or some medications.

In most cases, your hair will start to grow back within six months.

Source: NHS Choices

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Drug could cure balding by activating follicle cells - Gears Of Biz