New Tech May be Able to Reverse Male-Pattern Balding
A low-cost, non-invasive technology being developed in the US may be able to help sufferers of male-pattern baldness reverse its effects. The technology uses low-frequency electric pulses to stimulate follicle growth in the scalp. Instead of trying to regenerate follicles on smooth skin, the technology instead aims to reactivate dormant hair follicles within the scalp. Because of its process, it is likely to be useful to men who are only now experiencing the symptoms of baldness, and not those who have been bald for some time.
No Battery Required to Run
The device doesn’t utilize a battery to power it and is instead run from the wearer’s movements. The lack of a visible battery makes it a useful tool for users who want to keep it as a low-profile investment. Additionally, it can be incorporated into fashion accessories, letting men wear them discreetly. The current technology can be painful to users, and the non-invasive nature of this tech allows for regrowth without the pain. Also, since chemical compounds are not part of the treatment, there isn’t much chance of side effects occurring like with currently available treatment options.
Developed at the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a team led by one of the world experts in energy-harvesting devices, Dr. Xudong Wang, the technology is poised to change the way men see baldness on the whole. The system utilizes nano-generators that use everyday movement to power the electrical stimulators which don’t even need to be implanted under the skin to stimulate follicle growth. If the device managers to succeed, it could be a solution to hundreds of thousands of men’s problems.
Practical Applications Show Promise
The team tested the technology on hairless mice, and the device seemed to stimulate growth just as well as two different compounds contained in baldness medicines. The technology has a lot of promise for providing relief to men who are only now experiencing the results of male-pattern baldness. The team intends to forge on with human trials to try to get the technology approved for commercial use as soon as they can.
