Online Clinic News - Hair Loss Research

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posted: Tuesday, May 06, 2008 | Categories: Hair loss

Hair loss is completely normal. An average adult of either sex loses about one hundred hairs a day. In most people these are being constantly replaced and the loss of hair occurs evenly over the whole scalp. When a person’s hair loss goes beyond this level, however, the results can become a major problem, both in terms of physical appearance and psychologically too.

After years of research scientists at the University of Bonn in Germany have made a discovery, which might radically affect the way in which hair loss is treated. After six years of intensive study the scientists have managed to identify a gene, which is responsible for a form of hair loss called Hypotrichosis simplex. Although this form of hair loss is a hereditary condition and extremely rare it is hoped that the results will lead to finding new treatments for many different types of hair loss that are determined by genetics as opposed to environmental considerations.

The Scientists were able to locate a receptor that plays a major role in hair growth.The gene forms part of a group, which is known as the G-protein-coupled receptors. This is good news for the treatment of hair loss because the results have shown that this gene is particularly well suited to drug treatment. Now that this gene has been located it is hoped that the treatments, which are being developed to have an influence on the defective gene, might also have an effect on other types of hair loss.

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