Stem Cells, Fatty Acids, and the Biology of Hair Regrowth
Why monounsaturated fatty acids might be the missing piece—and what else your cells need
What if regrowing hair were as simple as rubbing oil on your scalp? A recent study published in Cell showed that monounsaturated fatty acids—the same ones found in olive oil—can trigger hair regrowth in just 20 days. At least in mice and in tissue samples. The question is: does this work in people, and if so, why isn’t every bald guy already doing it?1
So what’s actually happening here?
It turns out that when epithelial (skin) cells are damaged, subcutaneous fat cells release fatty acids to help in tissue regeneration through epithelial stem cells.
In hair follicles, the transition from the resting phase to the actively growing (anagen) phase involves the activation of epithelial stem cells. Building on prior observations that skin injuries or burns can trigger local hair regrowth, the researchers looked at how subcutaneous adipose tissue promotes hair regrowth. They found that adipose tissue in proximity to epithelial stem cells helps the cells meet the energy demand during stress by releasing monounsaturated fatty acids.
I have to admit that I’m skeptical here: It seems hard to believe that putting monounsaturated oil on your head could regrow hair.
Let’s take a look at what other studies show:
