Stem Cell Therapy For Hair Loss – Get The Truth

What Is Stem Cell Therapy for Hair Loss?

There is no approved “Stem Cell Therapy” for hair loss, and where stem cells from elsewhere in the body can have multiple effects, it appears that stem cells from hair (aka hair follicular stem cells or “HFSCs” or dermal papilla cells aka “DP” cells) or the fat of the scalp itself might have the best chance to help regrow hair.

It is confusing for patients, because so much hype is used to advertise these treatments, AND because you need a degree in biology to understand the difference!  Because of that, let me help simplify the treatments and clarify what we know (and what we don’t know!)

It is easiest to think of these treatments in two classes:1

  • Growth Factor Rich Treatments (i.e. NO cells)
    1. PRP and Growth Factor Concentrate (GFC)
    2. Secretomes
    3. Exosomes/Extracellular vesicles
  • Stem Cell Rich Treatments (i.e. CELLS)
    1. Adult Stem Cells (including Nanofat (from adipose fat), stromal vascular fraction (SVF), cultured hair follicle stem cells, and bone marrow derived stem cells)
    2. Perinatal Stem Cells (including umbilical cord blood/amniotic fluid derived and Wharton’s jelly and placental derived stem cells)

The thinking for all of these treatments is to give the hair follicle more regenerative cells to replace those it loses while it is miniaturizing due to the effects of DHT and genetics.2  Growth factor rich treatments (i.e. PRP and Exosomes most commonly) stimulate the cells to proliferate, and the stem cells themselves (i.e. derived from fat, fetal sources, bone marrow, etc.) help replenish the supply in the bulge area of the hair follicle.1

Latest Research Highlights

Adipose-Derived Stem Cells (ADSCs) are the most studied in humans but there are differences between treatments because you can harvest fat from many places on your body – including the scalp!  Again, it is worth noting that it appears that stem cells from hair (aka hair follicular stem cells or “HFSCs” or dermal papilla cells aka “DP” cells) or the fat of the scalp itself might have the best chance to help regrow hair.4

Several trials show an increase in hair density and hair thickness (i.e. the diameter of the hair shaft) for patients with male pattern and female pattern hair loss, as well as alopecia areata.  These cells are rich in growth factors and regenerative signals that can “awaken” dormant hair follicles, and boost hair density.1

Much like low level light therapy (LLLT or PBMT) cells like these seem to:

  • Promote angiogenesis (new blood vessel formation)
  • Reduce inflammation
  • Secrete growth factors like VEGF, IGF-1, HGF, and PDGF, which may help trigger hair growth

Hair Follicle Stem Cells

Scientists are working on cloning or expanding follicular stem cells to regenerate new follicles but it's not yet human-ready.3 This method is still very experimental, but a 2023 Nature study showed the possibility of reprogramming adult skin cells into hair follicle stem cells in mice.  In humans, it would be ideal if we could use a patient’s own hair regenerative cells, clone the cells (i.e. we have not been able to clone a whole hair follicle yet and that is a much more difficult endeavor), and then use THOSE cells to regenerate the miniaturizing hairs and possible cure hair loss.

Until we do that, though, the stem cells we obtain can only treat the loss and would require repeated maintenance injection therapies to have a lasting effect.  So far, these treatments are similar to medication – they are lifelong, and once you stop, the effect wears off.

Exosome Therapy

Exosomes carry signals between cells.  They are not the cells themselves, and can be derived from any cell (or group of cells) that is signaling another.  These treatments are not FDA-approved for hair loss and are only offered off-label or in clinical trials.  They are also expensive, ranging from $2,000–$10,000+ per treatment.

Generally speaking, exosomes can be derived from many sources, including fetal sources, which is why some sources may be rich in growth factors and could regenerate hair follicles.

Comparisons: Exosomes to PRP

Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) is a treatment that utilizes platelets from your own blood, as they are rich in growth factors. Just like exosomes, it also tries to get growth factors to the site of the miniaturizing hair to stimulate regrowth, it just uses the ones you have already.  Exosomes may have an advantage in that they are a more consistent treatment, as a patient’s platelet numbers can vary widely from day to day, depending on what is happening in their body and immune system.  But PRP has the advantage in that it is your own blood product (so you know the source!), readily available, and the thing you are paying for is the technology and service and skills of your provider to use it to treat you with.

Take-Home Messages

It is important to remember a few take-home messages:

  • In the studies that show growth, these cells are given as an injection.
  • Mouse studies do not mean that a human will benefit, and should not be considered proof of efficacy in humans. Be skeptical.
  • Topical application of any stem cell or growth factor has not yet been shown to be consistently effective on the scalp because the scalp skin is a thick barrier.
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