Some factors can either promote or inhibit hair growth.
September 2005 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology” Ferulic acid helps stabilize vitamins C and E for better skin protection from the sun, certain compounds may promote hair growth, atopic dermatitis patients have lower skin defense molecules, older men are more likely to get a type of skin cancer, and a substance called relaxin may prevent age-related skin thickening.
July 1985 in “American pharmacy” Minoxidil can effectively increase hair growth in early male pattern baldness.
November 2022 in “Cureus” New biomaterial treatments for baldness show promise, with options depending on patient needs.
489 citations
,
June 2005 in “The FASEB Journal” Human hair follicles can produce cortisol like the body's stress response system.
252 citations
,
January 2008 in “Trends in Endocrinology and Metabolism” Melatonin in the skin helps protect against damage from stress and UV rays, and could be used to treat certain skin conditions.
252 citations
,
March 1998 in “Developmental dynamics” FGFs-4, -8, and -9 have overlapping roles and are repeatedly used in tooth development.
243 citations
,
October 2003 in “Developmental biology” Ectodin integrates BMP, SHH, and FGF signals in developing ectodermal organs.
89 citations
,
April 2020 in “Advanced Healthcare Materials” MSC-laden hydrogels enable scarless wound healing with hair growth.
81 citations
,
January 2003 in “The FASEB Journal” Follistatin helps hair growth and cycling, while activin prevents it.
73 citations
,
April 2019 in “Experimental Dermatology” The scalp's microorganisms significantly affect hair health and disease.
50 citations
,
February 2022 in “Nanomaterials” Nanomaterials show promise in improving wound healing but require more research on their potential toxicity.
33 citations
,
January 1996 in “CRC Press eBooks” Various techniques help study skin conditions and test drug effects.
29 citations
,
December 2016 in “The EMBO Journal” Gata6 is important for protecting hair growth cells from DNA damage and keeping normal hair growth.
29 citations
,
March 2016 in “Cell cycle/Cell cycle (Georgetown, Tex. Online)” Isoproterenol helps hair follicle stem cells turn into beating heart muscle cells.
25 citations
,
May 2016 in “Molecular biology of the cell” A protein in plants needs to bind two lipids to help with root hair growth, and this process is similar across different plant species.
19 citations
,
December 2018 in “Experimental and Molecular Medicine” Small molecule IM boosts hair growth by changing stem cell metabolism.
19 citations
,
November 2012 in “Cell Communication and Signaling” FGF-9 speeds up the early development of certain organs, showing potential for organ regeneration.
17 citations
,
February 2011 in “Expert Opinion on Drug Safety” Manage side effects of hepatitis C treatment with dose changes and medications, which may improve patient adherence and treatment success.
16 citations
,
October 2020 in “Lipids in Health and Disease” Leptin affects skin and hair health and may worsen some skin conditions, but more research is needed to understand its full impact.
15 citations
,
February 2021 in “Frontiers in immunology” Leptin, a hormone from fat cells, affects immune responses and can influence skin diseases and hair growth.
14 citations
,
April 2005 in “Experimental Dermatology” Stressed fibroblasts greatly increase melanin production in hair, skin, and eye cells, mainly due to a growth factor called bFGF.
13 citations
,
July 2015 in “Archives of dermatological research” N1-methylspermidine helps hair growth and reduces inflammation in hair follicles.
12 citations
,
February 1999 in “British Journal of Dermatology” Minoxidil increased small openings in blood vessel walls near growing hair in rats.
10 citations
,
May 2012 in “Cell Adhesion & Migration” ILK and ELMO2 help cells move and stick together, important for wound healing and hair growth.
9 citations
,
January 2018 in “Medical research archives” Low-intensity light therapy is effective for skin healing, reducing inflammation, and treating various skin conditions.
7 citations
,
September 2003 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology” PAR-1 may play a role in hair growth regulation in human hair follicles.
6 citations
,
January 2007 in “Actas dermo-sifiliográficas/Actas dermo-sifiliográficas” Gray hair regained color after thyroid hormone treatment.
5 citations
,
February 2013 in “Dermatology and therapy” Crescina® lotion helps reduce hair loss and increase hair growth in males with androgenetic alopecia.
4 citations
,
April 2025 in “Health Science Reports” Adult female acne is influenced by hormones, diet, and genetics.