New Approach to Hair Loss Treatment Using Stevioside
A common treatment for androgenetic alopecia (AGA), which is a typical form of hair loss, may become more effective with the addition of stevioside, a natural sweetener from the stevia plant.
Minoxidil is widely used for AGA and is applied directly to the scalp. It stimulates hair follicles by increasing blood flow, but the absorption through the skin can be limited. Researchers have experimented with microneedle patches to enhance this absorption.
In a recent study, scientists from Australia and China explored combining stevioside with microneedle patches. The rationale was that stevioside improves the solubility of minoxidil in water, potentially allowing more of it to penetrate the skin and reach hair follicles.
The experiments were conducted on genetically modified mice prone to hair loss, and the outcomes were encouraging. The minoxidil absorption improved significantly, leading to greater hair regrowth.
“We observed a notable increase in hair follicles transitioning to the growth phase, achieving 67.5 percent coverage of the treated area by day 35,” the researchers noted in their findings.
The study indicated that mice receiving the standard minoxidil solution achieved only 25.7 percent coverage by day 35, suggesting a substantial improvement with the new method. Hair regrowth also began sooner.
Nevertheless, it’s important to remember these results pertain to mice, not humans. Further development of this microneedle technique and the minoxidil formulation is still ongoing to optimize the delivery process.
The researchers emphasized that it’s crucial to assess the advantages and disadvantages of different technical approaches, like using metal versus soluble microneedles, based on specific clinical situations.
Before any clinical trials can be conducted on humans, additional testing in larger animal studies is necessary. These trials will help evaluate how well the microneedle patches perform on people, as well as any potential side effects.
There are also questions about the long-term viability of this treatment. Current applications of minoxidil typically require daily use, and while the microneedle method might alter this routine, ensuring ease of regular use is essential.
“Integrating stevioside to improve minoxidil delivery marks a significant advance toward more effective and natural hair loss treatments, which could benefit millions globally,” remarked Lifeng Kang, a pharmacologist at the University of Sydney.
The findings of this research have been published in Advanced Healthcare Materials.
