Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 3, 2026

Collecting Hair Samples for Hair Cortisol Analysis in African Americans
Published on: June 10, 2018
Regenerative Medicine for Hair Health: From Principles to Practice (Part II)
Saranya P Wyles1, Sydney L Proffer2, Larissa Pastore3
1Department of Dermatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN.
Abstract:
Regenerative technologies are increasingly being explored to support hair growth and follicular restoration, but most remain experimental and grounded in early-stage biological insights. Developmental biology has revealed key signaling pathways, such as WNT, BMP, and SHH, that regulate hair follicle formation and cycling within the bulge and dermal papilla. Building on these principles, a range of regenerative modalities are being studied, including mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), platelet-rich plasma (PRP) derivatives, and extracellular vesicles (exosomes) derived from bone marrow, adipose tissue, umbilical cord, and platelets, among other sources. These therapies show potential across scarring, non-scarring, and autoimmune alopecia, yet remain limited by variability in protocols, lack of standardized characterization, and the need for long-term safety and regulatory guidance.. This CME article is intended as an educational overview rather than a therapeutic endorsement. Its primary goal is to define terminology, summarize scientific principles, and highlight current research directions to support clinician and trainee understanding. As regenerative therapies continue to evolve, closing the educational gap will help the dermatology community critically evaluate emerging data and responsibly integrate future advances with appropriate scientific, ethical, and regulatory rigor.
Related Concept Videos
Hair Cells
The Uncertainty Principle
Hardy-Weinberg Principle
The Pauli Exclusion Principle
Accessory Structures of the Skin: Hair and Hair Follicles
Hair is a keratinous filament growing out of the epidermis. It is primarily made of dead, keratinized cells. Hair strands originate at the epidermal penetration called the hair follicle. The hair shaft is the part...
The Aufbau Principle and Hund's Rule

