I've seen a connection between wound healing and hair growth in some of the recent research. Tb4 is the example that comes to mind. It's a drug that is supposed to help in wound healing and also promotes hair growth (at least, it grows hair in mice models )
I found this article from Cotsarelis very interesting. His research suggests that hair stem cells aid in wound healing as a natural process. Maybe the wound healing drugs, like Tb4 wake up the hair follicles as part of the healing process and this promotes hair growth at the same time.
Whatever the case may be, I like the Cotsarelis research because if researchers view hair stem cells as more important than just growing hair then they will devote more research to them.
I think the fact that actual stem cells reside at the base of the hair follicle makes for a lot of possibilities with regards to organ generation and even potentially curing other diseases, if scientist can harness the stem cells in a similar manner to the embryonic variety.
It's very interesting that hair stem cells are involved in natural wound healing. And as for the link between wound healing and hair growth, it seems to have been around for a while -- case in point being the copper-peptide products like Tricomin.
Hair loss and the mechanics of hair growth are such a puzzle eh? I am amazed at the complexity of what seems like such a simple thing.
I am definetely excited about this stuff though, seems really promising. I wonder if some companies sell this stuff so that we can make our own concoction?
The mechanism of hair growth has been clarifying itself by the improvement in the culture techniques for hair follicle cells. Recently stem cells inducing the anagen phase in the hair follicle cycle have been discovered in the bulge region of the outer root sheath (ORS). To find growth-promoting agents for the ORS cells, we evaluated the effect of various botanical extracts on the growth of cultured human hair follicles. We found that Laminaria angustata extract increased the ORS cell growth. Further, hair-growth in the shaved skin of C3H mice was also promoted by the topical application of the extract.
There's Laminaria(a different kind..but contains the same goodies) in EquiClear from Elsom...and in the hair gel by Morrocco Method. I think it's in the MM shampoo as well. I'm sure other products contain it.
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