American researchers have discovered a new mechanism for hair growth, which could help in the future develop an effective treatment that gives hope to those who suffer from baldness.

The study was conducted by researchers at Mount Sinai College of Medicine in New York City, and published in the Journal of Science.

The researchers explained that the best way to avoid baldness is to prevent hair loss in the first place, so they studied the mechanism by which hair grows to find a cure for this problem.

They added that their study made a major discovery in the presence of the so-called "smooth muscle", which is not known previously, and which surrounds the hair follicles and is called the "skin sheath."

The discovery, lead researcher Dr. Michael Rendel, explained, "In the human hair’s life cycle, new hair appears by the so-called papilla skin cells, and these specialized cells begin at the base of the growing hair follicles, but then the hair moves slowly up towards the cells The stem located at the tip of the hair follicle. "

"These stem cells receive signals from the nearby skin papilla cells to begin the next growth stage and the emergence of a new hair, replacing the damaged hair that has fallen," Rendel added.

Mice
In a study on mice, the research team discovered that the "skin sheath" muscles surrounding the growing hair follicles or smooth muscles play a major role in the emergence of new hair, rather than hair that falls out in its natural cycle, and turns into baldness when it occurs in large areas of the scalp Head.

"This type of muscle cannot be controlled voluntarily. It is similar to that in blood vessels, but we can control it by developing new drugs that can prevent it from contracting," Rendel noted.

He cautioned that this discovery means that men may one day get a treatment that allows them to simply maintain their hair, rather than losing it and falling out slowly.

"We are excited about the possibility of developing ways to prevent shrinkage of the sheath, to stop regression of follicles and to prevent hair loss before new hair grows," said Rendel.

For his part, said Dr. Michael Greene from "Lennox Hill" Hospital in New York City, who did not participate in the study: "It seems that the future of hair loss treatment has become very promising, as this study shows that baldness may be optional soon."

He added, "Previously, I conducted a lot of research in an attempt to find ways to regenerate hair, but this study shows that the skin covering can preserve the hair follicles until they create an appropriate climate for new hair growth."