Scientists have uncovered a ‘simple’ way to cure hair loss

From Stanley Tucci to Terry Crews, some men have made bald men their signature style.

But if you’re not keen to say goodbye to those luscious locks, science may now have the answer.

The secret to why humans grow such long scalp hair is a hidden ‘molecular switch’, researchers say.

This means that treating hair loss can be as “simple” as finding a way to click play.

Although long scalp hair is rare in the animal kingdom, researchers do not believe the ability to grow is unique.

Mammals such as orangutans, orangutans, orangutans, and male lions all have the ability to grow their hair.

This suggests that the trigger for hair growth may remain hidden within us and other mammals until the right environmental factor activates.

“What these examples tell us is that the molecular blueprint for developing very long hair has always been present, albeit often in a silent ‘state’,” says co-author Professor Song-Jan Lin, from the University of Singapore.

A team of researchers examined the evolution of human hair. They believe that long scalp hair first appeared when humans appeared in Africa about 300,000 years ago

Although it may seem normal to us, a full head of hair for a human is extremely uncommon for the animal kingdom.

“Humans grow very long scalp hair,” says author Professor Nina Jablonski, from Pennsylvania State University.

Likewise, attributes of scalp hair—its length, shape, color, and hair loss—play an essential role in social communication.

“However, despite the importance of having long hair on the scalp, we know very little about how this feature of human skin arises and how it is regulated.”

Researchers from Pennsylvania State University, the University of California, Irvine, and National Taiwan University investigated the social and biological evolution of human hair.

Their findings suggest that long hair first evolved when humans first appeared in tropical Africa about 300,000 years ago as a way to protect our heads from the intense heat of the sun.

Long, tightly combed hair is an effective sun shield so ancient humans did not need to sweat as much to cool down and could therefore go longer without water.

“This type of hair not only reduces heat exposure, but also conserves water and vital electrolytes, which could mean the difference between life and death in such extreme conditions,” says Professor Jablonski.

Long, curly scalp hair is an effective shield against the sun, and may have evolved to help humans survive the harsh condition of Africa.

Hair types only became more diverse as humans moved out of Africa. Eventually, humans began to select for long hair because it conveyed key cues such as age and sexual maturity (album photo)

Later, humans began to select for long hair because it conveyed essential signals regarding an individual’s age, sexual maturity, health, and social status.

Not only did humans spread beyond Africa, as more hair types evolved, and hair styling became more elaborate and varied.

However, this does not explain why humans were able to start supplying long scalp hair in the first place.

Looking at the animal kingdom, researchers have found that long scalp hair is not entirely unique to humans.

Some male animals such as lions, muscats, and highlanders can all grow very long hair from their heads.

This suggests that the ability to grow long hair is something that many mammals carry but is only turned on under certain conditions.

Most importantly, primates with whom we share a common ancestor such as Hamadryas Baboons, Orangutans, and Emperor Tamarins grow exceptionally long hair.

Since the biological mechanisms that dictate hair growth are the same in all species, researchers suggest that there may be a “molecular switch” that triggers the transition from short to long hair.

Long hair is not entirely unique to the animal kingdom as primates like orangutans grow very long hair (pictured). This suggests that the ability to grow long hair may be dormant in mammals until the right conditions activate it

In their paper, published in the British Journal of Dermatology, they argued that our human ancestors always had this molecular switch built into their biology.

However, it was only when this molecular program was activated that this molecular program was met.

“When human ancestors evolved the ability to grow extremely long scalp hair, it was likely accomplished through some genetic modification that reactivated a dormant program rather than the evolution of an entirely new molecular mechanism,” says Professor Lin.

This realization can have serious consequences for trying to find a cure for hair loss.

Male pattern baldness, or androgenetic alopecia, is thought to affect between 40 and 50 percent of men worldwide.

This condition is caused by a combination of genetic factors and levels of sex hormones that gradually lead to permanent loss of hair follicles on the head.

Patients can use the topical treatment Minoxidil, sold as Rogaine, but this can be slow and does not work for every person with hair loss.

Those who do not see improvements with minoxidil can take oral finasteride, sold as Propecia, which works by reducing the flow of testosterone.

In good news for bald men like Terry Crews (pictured), researchers say finding a way to activate the ‘molecular switch’ for hair could be key to treating hair loss.

This must be taken continuously once started and can be associated with severe side effects such as erectile dysfunction, testicular pain, decreased libido, and depression.

However, if long hair growth is triggered by a molecular switch, finding a way to turn it on may be the solution scientists are looking for.

Co-author Professor Maxime Plekus, from UCL, says: “Understanding how human scalp hair follicles normally grow so normally will lead to new molecular targets for more effective treatments for hair loss.

“This knowledge could lead to treatments that help restore hair growth and relieve the emotional distress that often accompanies hair loss.”