In an unexpected twist, researchers may have stumbled upon a new treatment for hereditary-patterned baldness, the most prevalent cause of hair loss in both men and women globally. This potential breakthrough emerged from a study focused on a naturally occurring sugar in the body that helps form DNA—specifically, the ‘deoxyribose‘ part of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA).
The discovery was made by scientists at the University of Sheffield and COMSATS University in Pakistan. Initially, they were investigating the wound-healing properties of deoxyribose sugars when applied topically to mice. They observed that the fur around the treated wounds grew back faster than in untreated areas, sparking further investigation.
Intrigued by these findings, the researchers decided to explore the effects of deoxyribose on hair regrowth. They conducted experiments on male mice with testosterone-driven hair loss, applying a small dose of deoxyribose sugar gel daily to shaved patches of skin. Within weeks, these areas exhibited robust regrowth, with long, thick hairs sprouting—results comparable to those achieved with minoxidil, a well-known hair loss treatment sold under the brand name Rogaine.
“Our research suggests that the answer to treating hair loss might be as simple as using a naturally occurring deoxyribose sugar to boost the blood supply to the hair follicles to encourage hair growth,” said Sheila MacNeil, a tissue engineer at the University of Sheffield.
Hereditary-patterned baldness, also known as androgenic alopecia, is a genetic condition influenced by hormone levels and aging, affecting up to 40 percent of the population. Currently, the FDA has approved only two drugs to treat this condition: minoxidil and finasteride (Propecia). Minoxidil, an over-the-counter topical treatment, can slow hair loss and promote some regrowth but is not effective for everyone. Finasteride, an oral prescription drug for men, can slow hair loss in 80 to 90 percent of patients but must be taken continuously and can have severe side effects such as erectile dysfunction, testicular or breast pain, reduced libido, and depression.
“The treatment of androgenetic alopecia remains challenging,” MacNeil and her colleagues, led by biomaterial researcher Muhammad Anjum from COMSATS, stated in their published paper.
The team developed a biodegradable, non-toxic gel made from deoxyribose and tested it on mouse models of male-pattern baldness. They also tested minoxidil and a combination of both treatments. The results were promising: both minoxidil and the deoxyribose gel promoted 80 to 90 percent hair regrowth in the mice, though combining the treatments did not yield significantly better results.
Photographs taken throughout the 20-day trial clearly showed the effectiveness of the treatments. The researchers noted an increase in blood vessels and skin cells around the treated sites, which may explain the improved hair growth. “The better the blood supply to the hair bulb, the larger its diameter and the more hair growth,” they explained.
If effective in humans, the deoxyribose gel could be a groundbreaking treatment for alopecia and might also stimulate hair, lash, and eyebrow regrowth following chemotherapy. “This is a badly under-researched area, and hence new approaches are needed,” the authors argued.
While the current experiments were limited to male mice, future research could explore whether these natural sugars could also benefit female mice with testosterone-driven alopecia. “The research we have done is very much early stage,” MacNeil admitted, “but the results are promising and warrant further investigation.”
The study was published in Frontiers in Pharmacology.
