Update: October 29, 2026 Sir Patrick Stewart. Sir Patrick Stewart Dies at 86 Sir Patrick Stewart died today at the age of 86 from the side effects of Alzheimer’s disease and Lewy Body Dementia. Most people knew the great actor from his starring roles in “Star Trek” and “X-Men”. We in the hair loss world highly respected him due to his open discussion about the trauma his premature balding caused him. July 13, 2020 Happy 80th Birthday Patrick Stewart Sir Patrick Stewart (Captain Picard) of Star Trek fame is an outstanding actor and seems to be a great human being. More relevant to us, he is a hair loss sufferer who was traumatized by his premature early onset balding at age 19. Today is Mr. Stewart’s 80th birthday. HairLossCure2020 wishes SirPatStew the very best. Patrick Stewart on his Hair Loss Trauma It is rare for a celebrity to be as open as Patrick Stewart about the turmoil experienced by his or her hair loss. Most celebrities of that era got hair transplants or hair systems (e.g., Elton John or John Travolta). However, Mr. Stewart made the bald look cool even before basketball legend Michael Jordan did it in the late 1980s. On Abuse See this personal essay on domestic violence by Patrick Stewart. The man seems like a genuinely empathetic and sincere person. Source link

Dr. Xiaoping Ren (China) and Russian surgeons performed the world’s first spinal cord transplant in October 2026. On extremely rare occasions, I cover developments from the medical world that are unrelated to hair. Initially, I planned to ignore yesterday’s news about the world’s first spinal cord transplant having been performed in Russia. But then I read that the lead surgeon involved is the renowned Dr. Xiaoping Ren from China, so I had to write this post. Long-time readers might remember when I covered Dr. Ren and Dr. Sergio Conavaro several times between 2015 and 2017. At the time, they attained global infamy due to their plans to perform the world first head transplant. Or more accurately, a full body transplant onto an existing head. They even got over 100 volunteers who wanted to get the procedure, and were set to perform it on Russian Valery Spiridonov. But, perhaps thankfully, this never materialized. Side Note: I am very curious to know the current situation of the world’s first ever skull and scalp transplant recipient James Boysen. The Texan underwent the procedure in 2015 and seemed very satisfied with the outcome a year later. Including bonus brand new scalp hair. I contacted him on Linkedin a while back, but received no response. The World’s First Spinal Cord Transplant Performed in Russia The world’s first spinal cord transplant was performed last week in Russia, and even the mayor of Moscow announced this on his Max channel. The pioneering 12-hour surgery was performed at the Sklifosovsky Research Institute of Emergency Care. The patient, who was facing complete immobility, now has a chance to recover. However, some scientists have voiced skepticism. Per “New Scientist“, the procedure: “Involved removing a damaged segment of a person’s spinal cord, three years after the injury, and replacing it with a section from a brain-dead donor.” According to Dr. Ren (who currently conducts his surgeries at China’s Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine): “Surgeons removed damaged tissue and used microsurgery and polyethylene glycol (PEG), a substance capable of helping cell membranes fuse, to join the donor segment to the recipient’s spinal cord. We have informed the patient of every potential risk and surgical outcome, and the patient’s current condition is good.” Interestingly, in February 2026, Dr. Ren and another team of Russian surgeons performed Russia’s first bilateral hand allotransplant surgery. That complex operation lasted for 13 hours and involved precise reconnection of blood vessels, bones, nerves and tendons. Wouldn’t it be great if Chinese and Russian scientists collaborated on finding a hair loss cure? While China has in recent years finally started to make its mark in treating hair loss, Russia still seems largely absent. See my global list of major hair loss research centers and companies. Below is a YouTube short on the world’s first spinal cord transplant procedure that was done in Russia in October 2026. Source link

Shiseido (Japan)’s long awaited DSC cell hair multiplication procedure finally arrived in Japan in June 2024. It is called S-DSC and went through all three Phases of clinical trials. I have patiently covered Shiseido (and its original Canada-based partner Replicel) for more than twelve years. S-DSC was initially only available to Japanese residents, primarily due to issues related to language translation. In mid-2026, one of the six Japanese centers currently offering this treatment started accepting “all East Asian patients whose hair characteristics are similar to those of Japanese patients”. Please read the numerous updates at the bottom of this post in case you are interested in this ground-breaking treatment. Shiseido (Japan)’s Dermal Sheath Cup Cell Hair Multiplication Process. Image from Toho University. June 28, 2024 Shiseido’s Dermal Sheath Cup Cell Hair Multiplication Treatment Has Arrived Today might be among the five most important days in the hair loss world since I first started writing this blog in 2013. Shiseido’s decade-plus-long much awaited dermal sheath cup (DSC) cell hair multiplication (cell culturing and implantation) procedure is finally here for patients starting July 1, 2024. Albeit only in Japan, where they have favorable regulations for faster in-clinic use when it comes to regenerative medicine and stem cell based technologies. Shiseido (Japan) completed small-scale Phase 3 equivalent trials for this hair multiplication technology in 2023. The results were positive but modest, with no major side effects. I hope the results will improve as they use this autologous DSC cell transplantation process in more patients and gain experience. For now, you should only expect existing scalp hair thickening and perhaps minimal hair regrowth if you are lucky. Thicker hair in and of itself could lead to a slowdown in further damage from the ravages of dihydrotestosterone (DHT). You can read today’s full announcement here. The technology is described as having been developed by Tokyo Medical University Hospital, Kyorin University Hospital, and Shiseido. Interestingly, they leave out any mention of Replicel (Canada), with which Shiseido has had past legal issues after a technology sharing agreement went wrong. S-DSC® Hair Regenerative Medicine Shiseido has also created a new website related to S-DSC hair regenerative medicine, where the “S” stands for Shiseido. The about S-DSC page is very interesting. S-DSC® treatment promotes hair growth by supplementing the thinning areas of your scalp with your own cultured DSC cells. They only make claims that existing hair will get thicker and more voluminous, while scalp inflammation will be reduced. Perhaps they also want to temper expectations, even if some people may get good regrowth? Interestingly, women might get better results then men. S-DSC Hair Regenerative Medicine Treatment. The key person who led the development of this technology is Professor Emeritus (Department of Dermatology, Tokyo Medical University) Dr. Ryoji Tsuboi. I feel like a genius for using his image as my main one on my global hair loss research page from the get go. I originally picked Dr. Tsuboi over Dr. Takashi Tsuji just due to a more interesting image of the former at a white board. Shiseido DSC Treatment Cost Shiseido’s DSC cell injection treatment costs $16,000 to $25,000. Much higher than I expected. And you will need this at least once a year or two in all likelihood. Per Tokyo Medical’s site, the cost will run from: “2,300,000 yen (excluding tax) to 3,500,000 yen (excluding tax).” Hair Regenerative Outpatient Treatment Begins in Japan on July 1, 2024 Associate Professor Shiro Niyama of the Department of Dermatology at Toho University Ohashi Hospital will start offering this “hair regenerative treatment for thinning hair” using cultured autologous hair bulb root sheath cell products (S-DSC®) from July 1st 2024. Patients will be required to get a referral, and also be responsible for their own costs due to the elective nature of the procedure. Note that this treatment is available for both men and women. In the procedure itself: First, healthy scalp tissue of about 5 mm diameter is taken from a non-balding area such as the back of the head. From this, DSC cells are isolated. S-DSC is produced after about 6 weeks of culture and quality inspection (a total of 7 vials of S-DSC can be produced). Once production is completed, patients will return to the hospital and the cultured DSC cells will be injected with a special syringe. Also check out the November 2023 study from the same team that is titled: “High migratory activity of dermal sheath cup cells associated with the clinical efficacy of autologous cell-based therapy for pattern hair loss.” The conclusion was that ITGA6-positive DSC cells, with superior migratory activity, may promote cell migration into nearby hair follicles. Update: October 12, 2024 Shiseido’s Treatment has a 30-60% Success Rate? When Shiseido’s hair loss treatment came out in June 2024 and I wrote this post, I was certain that this is the best news of the year. I was also optimistic that this dermal sheath cup (DSC) cell hair multiplication procedure would ultimately be superior to Minoxidil, and perhaps even match Finasteride results. However, since Shiseido is only offering this S-DSC procedure to Japanese citizens at the moment, it will be a while before we get more details about success rates. So I am updating this post due to a possible new report on Shiseido’s efficacy, though it is a bit speculative and anecdotal. In a new hair multiplication related article in Japanese newspaper Nikkei, they mention the “Big 3” of OrganTech (Japan — led by Dr. Takashi Tsuji), Stemson Therapeutics (US) and TrichoSeeds (Japan — led by Dr. Junji Fukuda). According to Nikkei, Stemson (Edit: Since folded) and OrganTech will start clinical trials in 2026 for their “Gen 2“ hair regeneration treatment. Junji Fukuda states that they have created a similar technology as OrganTech, but plan to start clinical trials in 5 years from now (i.e., in 2029). The title of the article is: “Planting hair seeds to treat alopecia. Clinical trials underway in Japan and overseas”. However, the most significant news is via implication.

What the Research Actually Supports There are a few real, distinct findings worth knowing, each more specific and more limited than the general “buildup causes hair loss” claim: Scalp inflammation can cause diffuse shedding, but it’s different from pattern hair loss. Inflammatory scalp conditions like seborrheic dermatitis (a common, buildup-adjacent condition involving excess oil and flaking) are recognized causes of telogen effluvium, a diffuse shedding pattern. (This is a real, reviewed clinical finding, Harrison & Bergfeld 2009, summarized in a 2020 Cureus review by Asghar et al., but it’s explicitly distinct from androgenetic (pattern) hair loss. Telogen effluvium doesn’t show the follicle miniaturization that defines pattern baldness, and it’s generally reversible once the underlying scalp condition is treated.) Scalp oil levels may correlate with pattern hair loss severity, but this isn’t proof of cause. A small 2021 study found that oil levels on the vertex scalp (the area most affected by pattern hair loss) were higher in people with androgenetic alopecia and correlated with how severe it was. (This was a small, single-center study, 31 people with hair loss, 31 without, and shows a correlation, not a proven cause-and-effect. The leading theory is that scalp oil can concentrate DHT, the hormone most tied to pattern hair loss, not that the oil itself blocks follicles.) Scalp massage, which often happens naturally during exfoliation, has some real (if modest) support. A small 2016 study had 9 men massage one side of their scalp daily for 24 weeks using a standardized device and found a small increase in hair thickness on the massaged side, with no change on the untreated side. (This is a genuinely small study, 9 people, not blinded, partly funded by a hair-care device company, and measured hair thickness, not growth rate or density. It’s suggestive, not proof, but it’s a real, measured result rather than a marketing claim.) Source link

ISHRS — International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery. Every year, the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery (ISHRS) hosts its annual World Congress events. I have covered every one of these gatherings since this blog was incepted in 2013. Hundreds of hair transplant surgeon ISHRS members and numerous renowned hair loss researchers attend these Congresses. ISHRS 34th World Congress in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil The International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery’s 34th Annual World Congress runs from October 15-October 17, 2026 in Rio de Janeiro (Brazil). The link to the Final Program Guide is always worth a read. The majority of the topics and sessions at these meetings focus on hair transplants. However, many other subjects are always thoroughly covered, including hair loss medications, regenerative medicine, stem cells, exosomes, PRP and LLLT. The “Norwood Lecture” covers hyperbaric oxygen therapy and its relation to inflammation control and cell regeneration. I doubt it has any major benefit when it comes to hair growth or regrowth. A bit of a strange choice. The “Stough Lecture” by Dr. Maria Hordinsky is titled: “Phase 3 SCALP Clinical Trial Program Evaluating Topical Clascoterone 5% Solution for Androgenetic Alopecia (AGA)”. This is great news, and I expect the US FDA to approve this novel androgen receptor antagonist to treat AGA in 2027. It will only be the third ever hair loss drug approved in the US after Minoxidil (1988) and Finasteride (1997). In April 2026, Cosmo Pharmaceuticals (Ireland) announced positive Phase 3 trial results for 5% topical clascoterone in treating AGA.  The “Advances in Hair Biology Lecture” is titled: “Bridging Data and Tissue: Bioinformatics and 3D Bioengineering for Next-Generation Hair Follicle Research.” Presentations of Interest Renowned dermatologist and trichologist Dr. Dirlene Roth (Brazil) will present on scalp microinfusion of hair loss drugs. And on a related note, Dr. Pablo Cirino (Brazil) will present on the increasingly popular Combined Regenerative Technique (CRT) of subcutaneously delivering hair loss drugs directly to the scalp. Dr. Xi Chua from China has an interesting presentation titled “Functional Regeneration Strategies of Hair Follicles:Advances and Challenges.” She co-authored a paper with the same title in 2025. Of special interest is Guatamela-based HairClone (UK) partner Dr. Marie Schambach’s talk on October 16th. It is part of the 8:00am-9.30am focussed session. HairClone CEO Dr. Paul Kemp emailed me last month and said the following: “Just wanted to let you know that Dr Schambach will be presenting the first 12 week time point of our clinical studies with AFC-001. I can’t give details ahead of her talk, but as you know, I have been in the cell therapy field for hair restoration for many years and these results on our first 8 patients are really encouraging.” Nothing from Pelage Pharmaceuticals (US) or Veradermics (US), though both companies are just beginning Phase 3 clinical trials as we speak. ISHRS Social Media Pages Make sure to check out the official ISHRS social media pages for the most important updates. Also check out #ISHRS2025 for reports from Congress attendees. ISHRS Instagram account ISHRS Facebook page ISHRS Twitter account ISHRS YouTube channel Source link

If you’ve spent any time looking at skincare, you’ve seen the claim that hyaluronic acid can “hold up to 1,000 times its weight in water.” It’s repeated everywhere, but it’s not something that holds up under real testing. A 2024 peer-reviewed study in the Journal of Cosmetic Science (Borchers & Pirrung) tested this claim directly with lab methods that measure water-binding, and found no evidence hyaluronic acid holds anywhere near 1,000 times its weight; it behaved more like a dilute glycerin solution. That’s still real, meaningful hydration, just not the exaggerated number most brands quote. So what does hyaluronic acid serum actually do, who should be using it, and how do you pick one that won’t backfire on sensitive or recently-treated skin? Here’s what’s worth knowing before you add one to your routine. What Hyaluronic Acid Actually Does Hyaluronic acid is a humectant that draws water into the outer layer of skin rather than adding oil or changing your skin’s natural barrier. In a well-formulated serum, that means: Immediate surface hydration. Skin looks plumper and feels smoother shortly after application, because the molecule is pulling moisture to where you put it. Support for the skin barrier. Properly hydrated skin is better able to function as a barrier, which matters most right after procedures that temporarily compromise it (microneedling, laser, chemical peels). A non-comedogenic hydration option. Because it’s water-based rather than oil-based, it’s a common pick for people who want hydration without added shine or clogged pores. What it doesn’t do: replace a moisturizer’s occlusive function (locking that water in), treat acne or pigmentation, or “fill” fine lines the way an injectable does. It’s a hydration ingredient, not a one-product skincare routine. Source link

At NHLMA, choosing minoxidil is not as simple as deciding between a pill and a topical formula. Before recommending either option, we first determine what type of hair loss is present, what may be contributing to it, and whether minoxidil addresses the full picture. A detailed scalp and follicle evaluation allows us to document your current density, shedding pattern, and degree of follicle miniaturization. This helps distinguish androgenetic alopecia, which often responds well to minoxidil, from temporary shedding or another condition that may require a different approach. Comprehensive lab work can reveal internal factors such as low ferritin, thyroid dysfunction, vitamin D deficiency, nutrient imbalances, inflammation, or hormonal changes. Minoxidil may support growth, but it cannot correct an untreated deficiency or underlying medical issue that is continuing to disrupt the hair cycle. At NHLMA, we may also recommend our non-invasive, top-recommended genetic saliva test for hair loss. The test analyzes genetic markers associated with hormone sensitivity, follicle growth cycles, nutrient metabolism, inflammation, and treatment responsiveness. These insights can help us understand whether your hair loss has a strong genetic or DHT-driven component and whether minoxidil is likely to work best alone or as part of a broader plan that also addresses the underlying cause of miniaturization. Genetic testing cannot guarantee that minoxidil will work or replace a medical evaluation. It gives our providers another layer of information to interpret alongside your scalp findings, lab results, health history, and previous treatment response. Because low-dose oral minoxidil is an off-label hair-loss treatment that works throughout the body, we also review blood pressure, resting heart rate, cardiovascular and kidney history, current medications, pregnancy plans, and any history of swelling or fluid retention. When oral minoxidil is prescribed, the dose and follow-up plan are selected for the individual rather than taken from a standard protocol. This process helps us answer more than whether oral or topical minoxidil is more convenient. It helps us determine whether minoxidil is appropriate for you, which form makes the most sense, what dose can be used safely, and whether another treatment should be included to address the biological driver of your hair loss. At NHLMA, the model is simple: test first, then treat. Learn more about genetic saliva testing and how hair follicle and laboratory testing can help uncover the potential causes of hair loss. Source link

What an exciting time in the world of hair loss! We have new JAK inhibitors for alopecia areata & drugs for androgenetic alopecia are on the way. In my view, new drugs need to earn their place as top options. When a new drug enters clinical practice, I think about how the drug fits into my practice in 4 steps. These are my ABCD’s: Amazement, Benchmarking, Comparison, and Durability. Step 1: Amazement. When new drug is announced in the media there is real amazement about its potential. The trial results are impressive, but enthusiasm needs to be tempered by recognition that experience is limited. I approach all new data quite cautiously. Step 2: Benchmarking. For every new treatment that is launched to the world, the hard work for me comes when I begin comparing the drug’s efficacy and safety with data from studies of existing therapies. These are often indirect comparisons, but they help determine whether the drug offers meaningful advantages. Is there reason to believe the new drug is truly better than my old ones? Step 3: Comparison. Stronger evidence emerges from direct comparative studies. Ideally what I want to see are good studies directly comparing the new drug with established therapies. These studies provide a clearer understanding of relative efficacy and safety and help define where the drug belongs in our treatment algorithms. I don’t just want to guess if the new drug is better than the old, I want to see the two drugs side by side in the same trial. These sorts of studies are full of surprises. Sometimes we see a new drug is much better than old ones- but sometimes we see it is not. Step 4: Durability. Finally, if a drug is going to need to be used long term, then I want to see how it does long term! Am I really that excited about a 24 week study if my patient will need the drug 24 years? Step 4 is about durability and years of experience tell us about sustained effectiveness, long-term safety, rare adverse events. Studies of pharmacovigilance are part of step 4. Many surprises are found in step 4! Many exciting new drugs are currently in Stages 1 or 2. Ultimately, Stages 3 and 4 will determine their enduring place in clinical practice. Source link

In 2019, I wrote a post about senolytic drugs to slow down ageing and maybe even reverse hair loss. Senolytics are drugs that clear away damaged senescent cells (also known as “zombie” cells). The latter are normal cells that have stopped dividing, but do not die and get cleared away. Instead, they pump out damaging inflammatory chemicals that harm healthy cells throughout the body. An increasing amount of anti-aging research is focused on the development of new senolytic drugs to help remove senescent cells. Some of these drugs have already been proven to extend mice lifespan substantially and are now in human clinical trials. And just this week, scientists in the US showed that a new topical senolytic drug called ABT-263 reverses skin aging in mice and improves wound healing. Rubedo Life Sciences RLS-1496 for hair loss. Rubedo Life Sciences RLS-1496 (GPX4 Modulator) to Treat Hair Loss Last week, Rubedo Life Sciences (US) announced that it would start a clinical trial in Fall 2026 to test its GPX4 modulator RLS-1496 to treat hair loss. The trial will be led by Dr. David Pariser, a former President of the American Academy of Dermatology. Modulation of GPX4 is thought to clear aged senescent cells, including from the roots of miniaturizing and thinning hair follicles. So RLS-1496 is a senolytic drug. RLS-1496 has already demonstrated efficacy in clinical trials for treating dermatological conditions such as actinic keratoses, atopic dermatitis, psoriasis and skin aging. Interestingly, Rubedo Life Sciences already tested RLS-1496 in an independent ex vivo human androgenetic alopecia (AGA) model. They used intact human hair follicles from male patients with AGA. The follicles were “challenged with dihydrotestosterone (DHT) to replicate the follicular miniaturization environment seen in AGA patients.” RLS‑1496 demonstrated a highly statistically significant increase in hair follicle elongation compared to vehicle control after 6 days. In particular, the hair elongation was much greater with RLS-1496 in comparison to finasteride. I pasted the before and after image towards the top of this post. Note that they do not mention any new hair growth. I am assuming that, if effective, RLS-1496 will rescue miniaturizing wispy hair, but will likely not bring back hair in totally bald areas of the scalp. Moreover, it might make your remaining hair stronger and more resistant to the ravages of dihydrotestosterone (DHT). “Rubedo Co-Founder and Chief Scientific Officer Marco Quarta, PhD, will present the ex vivo data, along with additional RLS-1496 data, at the 13th Annual Aging Research & Drug Discovery (ARDD) Meeting at Harvard University, October 1–3, 2026 — the world’s largest dedicated longevity science conference. The presentation marks the first time a GPX4 modulator program in hair loss will be presented at a major longevity science conference.” Check out this 2025 interview with Mr. Quarta. Also of interest, RLS-1496 uses Rubedo’s proprietary, AI-driven drug discovery platform ALEMBIC™. Yet another AI-driven hair loss drug. Studies on Hair Loss and Senescent Cells There are a number of studies that connect hair loss with increasing cellular senescence: Source link

A Realistic Month by Month Timeline Months 1 to 2 postpartum: Hair often still looks full, sometimes even fuller than usual, as pregnancy hormones are still clearing your system. Months 3 to 4 postpartum: This is when shedding typically begins and peaks. It can feel dramatic, and often is, but it reflects several months of accumulated follicles being released at once, not an accelerating problem. Months 5 to 6 postpartum: Shedding usually starts to slow noticeably. Many women begin seeing short, wispy regrowth, sometimes called baby hairs, along the hairline. Months 6 to 12 postpartum: For most women, shedding resolves and density gradually returns to its pre pregnancy baseline. Full regrowth by a baby’s first birthday is a reasonable general expectation, though the exact timeline varies from person to person. What Actually Helps There is no medication that speeds up postpartum telogen effluvium, because it is a hormonal recalibration, not a deficiency or a disease process. What helps most is supporting the hair you have while your body finishes the transition: gentle styling that avoids added tension, a scalp friendly routine, and attention to sleep and nutrition as much as a newborn allows, since both affect the hair cycle broadly. This is also a good window to have ferritin and thyroid levels checked. Postpartum iron depletion and postpartum thyroiditis are both common and can extend or worsen shedding beyond what estrogen withdrawal alone would cause. Our guides to iron deficiency and hair loss and vitamin D and hair loss cover what those labs should actually include. When It Is Not Just Postpartum Shedding Postpartum telogen effluvium should follow the general timeline above and trend toward improvement by month six. A few patterns are worth flagging to a provider rather than waiting out: shedding that is still worsening past month six, hair loss concentrated in one area rather than diffusely across the scalp, or a family history of pattern hair loss that this episode may have unmasked. Research on postpartum shedding has also found it can sometimes reveal underlying traction alopecia or other latent hair loss conditions that were not obvious before pregnancy, particularly in women who wear tight hairstyles. Source link