Hot SourceSource: economictimes.com, thesun.co
A team of scientists from the National Taiwan University (NTU) has announced a medical breakthrough that could potentially change the future of hair restoration — a serum that triggers visible hair regrowth within just 20 days.
The discovery, which has already generated global interest, could mark a major leap in the treatment of baldness and pattern hair loss, conditions that affect millions worldwide.
The researchers found that certain monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) naturally produced by fat cells under the skin can activate dormant hair follicles and stimulate rapid growth.
When these fatty acids — particularly oleic acid and palmitoleic acid — were applied to shaved laboratory mice, the animals began growing new hair within 20 days.
According to the team, the process works by signalling the body’s own stem cells to “wake up” and regenerate hair, a far more natural method than surgery or artificial transplants.
One of the study’s lead scientists, Professor Sung-Jan Lin, revealed that the results were so compelling that he tested the formula on himself.
“I personally applied these fatty acids, dissolved in alcohol, on my thighs for three weeks and found it promoted hair regrowth,” Prof Lin told New Scientist.
If the serum proves successful in human trials, it could become a revolutionary alternative to conventional hair restoration techniques, which often involve expensive surgical procedures, synthetic drugs, or treatments with limited long-term success.
Hair loss affects both men and women, and its psychological toll — linked to low self-esteem, anxiety, and social distress — makes it more than just a cosmetic issue.
By reactivating the body’s own hair follicles through natural metabolic pathways, this Taiwanese innovation could pave the way for a safer, non-invasive and affordable solution.
Despite the buzz, researchers and medical experts have urged caution and patience. So far, the findings have been demonstrated only in animal models and in limited self-testing by the scientists.
Clinical trials on humans have not yet begun, and experts warn that results in mice do not always translate directly to humans due to biological differences.
Furthermore, the formulation’s dosage, safety, and long-term effects will require careful evaluation before any commercial or clinical release.
“We are optimistic, but science must go through its full process,” one of the research collaborators told Taiwan’s Liberty Times. “Human scalp trials are being prepared to confirm both efficacy and safety.”
The NTU research team has reportedly filed a patent for the serum and plans to begin clinical trials to test its application on human scalps.
If successful, it could mark the first time a topical treatment achieves fast, sustained, and biologically natural hair regrowth — within weeks rather than months or years.
For now, experts advise individuals struggling with hair loss to consult dermatologists and avoid unverified products claiming miraculous results.
While still early, the discovery underscores the promise of scientific innovation in addressing common human conditions once considered inevitable.
If NTU’s serum proves effective in humans, the world could be on the brink of a historic shift in regenerative medicine — one where baldness might soon become a thing of the past.
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