Hair loss affects millions of people worldwide, impacting not only a person’s physical appearance but also the psychosocial perception. It deeply affects a person’s self-image and confidence.
One of the most prevalent forms of hair loss is alopecia areata. It is an autoimmune disorder where the body’s own immune cells mount an attack on the hair follicles, leading to substantial hair loss. The limited therapeutic options have prompted the search for novel treatments.
Scientists have developed cutting-edge exosome therapy, which incorporates the regeneration ability of stem cells. This groundbreaking technology acts on multiple facets of alopecia areata and revitalizes the scalp health to restore hair density. Let’s explore the mechanisms behind alopecia areata and their regulation by exosome therapy.
Hair Growth Cycle in Brief
A hair strand can be divided into two sections: the hair shaft and hair follicle. The shaft is the visible part and the follicle represents the region that remains underneath the skin. The follicle cycles through different phases to develop new hair strands and remove the aged strands.
Anagen Phase (Growth Phase): It is the active phase, which creates new hair strands. This phase is further subdivided into six stages involving the proliferation and differentiation of the progenitor cells.
Catagen Phase (Transition Phase): Catagen phase marks the transition of the follicle into quiescence by halting growth and promoting cell death. Keratin protein deposits in the region attached to the skin, causing regression.
Telogen Phase (Resting Phase): The follicle remains inactive in this phase, showing no signs of growth.
It has been suggested that after the catagen phase, the levels of growth factors, responsible for the formation of new strands, increase. Research has indicated the dermal papillary cells (DPCs) of the follicle are essential for hair growth. They migrate to the bulb region of the follicle and activate the residing stem cells.
Alopecia Areata: The Mechanism of Hair Loss
In alopecia areata, only the growing hairs or follicles in the anagen phase are targeted. The growth of the follicle is arrested at Stage III/IV of the anagen phase. Thinning occurs at the base of the hair shaft. Alopecia areata manifests as patches of hair loss. Interestingly, white hairs remain unaffected, creating the appearance of premature greying.
However, the disorder does not cause any permanent follicle damage and individuals might experience some regrowth. But recurrence of hair loss episodes often occur.
Studies have associated a few underlying diseases with alopecia areata, such as thyroid diseases, vitiligo, atopic dermatitis, lupus erythematous, psoriasis, rhinitis, Down syndrome, and polyglandular autoimmune syndrome type I.
The Immune System Dysregulation: The imbalance of the immune system dysregulation is the key feature of this disorder. Several factors contribute to this disorder, including genetic or environmental triggers, emotional or physical stress, vaccination, medications, viral infections, etc. These factors disrupt the immune response by the following signaling cascade.
- Factors downregulate the production of anti-inflammatory mediators or cytokines.
- The downregulated cytokines subsequently trigger immune cells to release pro-inflammatory cytokines.
- These cytokines, in turn, activate immune cells that target the follicles.
- Additionally, regulatory immune cells, which can prevent this autoimmune response, also decline.
- The follicles are prematurely pushed into the catagen and telogen phase, resulting in substantial hair loss and impaired regrowth.
The Innovative Exosome Technology
The current medications for alopecia areata manage the severity and duration of hair loss, whereas exosome therapy restores the scalp health. Exosomes are microscopic vesicles enclosing diverse nucleic acids, proteins, and lipids. They deliver these molecules to cells, facilitating cell to cell communication and altering the cell signaling in favor of repair and recovery. The stem cell-derived exosomes even integrate the regenerative potential to restore hair growth by following mechanisms:
Activate Follicular Stem Cells: Exosomes suppress the stress-induced death of follicle stem cells and promote their proliferation, which initiates a new hair cycle.
Prolong Growth Phase: Exosomes upregulate the expression of growth factors that accelerate the transition from telogen to anagen phase. They extend the growth phase, resulting in longer hair.
Enhance Regeneration: Exosomes stimulate the proliferation of follicle cells such as dermal papillary cells (DPCs) and outer root sheath cells (ORSCs), stimulating growth. They also increase the expression of genes crucial for follicle growth and development.
Regulate Immune Response: They produce anti-inflammatory mediators while diminishing pro-inflammatory mediators to suppress the abnormal immune response. Additionally, they also shift the immune response towards tissue healing.
Improve Blood Circulation: Exosomes also promote the formation of blood vessels, enhancing nutrient and oxygen supply to follicles.
Increased Strand Thickness: They also restore the dermal thickness and size of the bulb region, contributing to thicker hair strands.
Combat Damage: Exosome therapy mitigates the harmful impact of dihydrotestosterone (DHT) on DPCs.
Clinical Relevance
Recognizing the potential of exosome therapy and the implied applications, scientists in South Korea conducted a study with 39 patients suffering from alopecia areata. The study demonstrated a significant increase in the density from 121.7 hairs/cm2 to 146.6 hairs/cm2 after the exosome treatment. Additional research also did not report any adverse effects of the therapy.
Who can choose the therapy?
Exosome therapy is an effective treatment for the people suffering from androgenetic alopecia or alopecia areata. The minimal application of this therapy is an appealing feature, especially for the individuals with a preference for a non-surgical option. People who have been unsatisfied with the conventional treatments can also attempt this alternative therapy. Exosome therapy acts on the root causes of alopecia areata and revitalizes scalp, resulting in longer, stronger, and thicker hair.
Advancexo- The Trusted Brand of Exosome Manufacturer in India
Exosomes offer a cell-free alternative for stem cell therapy, eliminating the stem cell-associated risks. However, cases of infections were reported in 2019 and attributed to the substandard manufacturing process, emphasizing the selection of the right manufacturer. In India, Advancexo is the leading manufacturer of exosome therapy. The team at Advancexo has crafted a Hair Rejuve Kit to combat alopecia areata. It is a trusted brand for the following reasons.
GMP-Certified Manufacturing: Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) are a set of guidelines that guarantee the product to be free from impurities and contamination. These guidelines also ensure batch-to-batch consistency. Advancexo follows a GMP-compliant process to enhance the reliability of the product.
Rigorous Quality Control: Beyond GMP guidelines, each product requires extensive testing for contaminants and purity as well as size and shape. Advancexo runs a comprehensive analysis on each of its products to ensure their high quality.
Expert-Led Innovation: Advancexo has a dedicated team of experienced scientists to spearhead the research, manufacture, and validation of the product, thereby reinforcing the credibility of Advancexo’s product.
State-of-the-Art Infrastructure: Stem cells are the key sources for exosome preparation, thus emphasizing the role of a sterile lab environment. The facility at Advancexo is ISO-certified and equipped with a BSL-2 laboratory to meet the international standards for quality.
Conclusion
Alopecia areata is an aberrant immune disorder that manifests as hair loss patches, often impacting the mental well-being of the affected individuals. Exosomes is a cutting-edge therapy, sparking hope in people. It rejuvenates the scalp health, fostering thick, long and lustrous hair. It does not pose any side effects and presents a more natural approach to the entire treatment. In India, Advancexo has been the trusted brand for its GMP adherence and stringent testing protocols. It offers a Hair Rejuve Kit designed after extensive scientific research and rigorous testing.
