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Apoptosis is a cell’s internal “suicide” mechanism that causes cell death. The phenomenon has recently been studied very carefully, and what doctors know is that during the transition from anagen to catagen (that’s the growth phase to the changing phase), something happens in the hair follicle development. The cells within the hair follicles communicate with each other, and certain chemicals secreted in the hair follicle determine which hairs will survive for another growth cycle and which will die. Experts believe that the lifespan of each hair follicle — and possibly each follicular unit — is genetically programmed.

Because some of the hair follicles within the FU survive while others die, there’s some hope that the chemical inducers that determine the survivors can be identified and manipulated to prevent hair loss. We have identified some of the molecules that stimulate the process but others still need to be isolated. Maybe when all of the molecules are identified and isolated, we can stop the balding process from occurring.

Saving dying hair cells

The causes of cell death are complex. Research has shown that the cells that produce apoptosis-causing chemicals are found in every part of the hair follicle. It’s possible that different types of hair loss are influenced by different chemical problems in the pathways that control cell death.

Although the medical community is identifying many of these chemical pathways, it’s no closer to finding a cure for apoptosis than we would like. Interestingly, apoptosis typically doesn’t occur in cancerous cells, which are thought to be immortal, escaping their natural destiny of living a given number of cell cycles. For example, in breast cancer, a gene called BRCA causes the production of a particular enzyme that blocks apoptosis. Imagine if it were possible to bottle that enzyme to use on hair that’s dying off or, even better, create a cocktail that could make all the cells in the body immortal! At least we can dream.