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Are you suffering hair loss? You do not have to worry any more, as here is a good news for you. Researchers identified that few existing FDA-approved drugs have the potential to promote rapid hair growth when applied directly on to the skin.
Researchers conducted experiments on human hair follicles and mouse. It was identified by the study that the drugs that can inhibit the Janus kinase (JAK) family of enzymes have the potential to restore hair growth in varied forms of hair loss like male pattern baldness.
Angela Christiano, a researcher from Columbia University Medical Centre in the US, said, that "What we have found is promising, though we have not yet shown it is effective for male pattern baldness."
The study pointed out towards two JAK inhibitors, which are FDA approved, one to treat blood diseases (ruxolitinib) and the other one to treat rheumatoid arthritis (tofacitinib).
Researchers identified that resting follicles were rapidly awakened by JAK inhibitors out of dormancy, while studying normal mouse hair follicles. Hair follicles produce hair by cycling between resting and growing phases. The researchers identified that normal reawakening process of the follicles are triggered by JAK inhibitors.
Christiano said, "More work needs to be done to test if JAK inhibitors can induce hair growth in humans using formulations specially made for the scalp.”
Clinical trials are testing both the drugs to treat plaque psoriasis and alopecia areata, according to study. The autoimmune diseases cause hair loss. The research was published online in the journal Science Advances.
-Sumana
