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Clinically Confirmed Potential for Stem Cell-Derived Hair Loss Treatment

By 2026-04-24No Comments

Hair loss goes beyond a simple cosmetic concern to affect quality of life and psychological confidence,
even affecting social activity
Representative chronic diseases.

Especially Androgenetic alopecia, known as male and female pattern hair loss

It is the most common type of hair loss worldwide, characterized by an increasing prevalence with age.

Currently, minoxidil, finasteride, and dutasteride are widely used as standard treatments, but

There are limitations, such as the need for long-term maintenance treatment and the potential decrease in effectiveness upon discontinuation.

Accordingly, regenerative medicine-based approaches that restore the hair follicle environment itself have recently been gaining attention.

A representative example of this is the report published by the research team at Pusan ​​National University College of Medicine and Pusan ​​National University Hospital.

This is a clinical study of adipose-derived stem cell extract (ADSC-CE).


A treatment strategy using only extracted components without directly injecting stem cells.



The therapeutic substance used in this study is Adipose-Derived Stem Cell Constituent Extract (ADSC-CE).

This is not a method of injecting the adipose-derived stem cells themselves, but rather the growth factors and cytokines secreted by the stem cells· Proteins, etc.

It is extracted and manufactured as an external application.

In other words, unlike cell therapy that uses living cells Utilizing only the regenerative signals of stem cells without cells

Cell-free Therapy It can be called a strategy.

This method has the following advantages.

● Can be used via external application rather than a procedure.

● Relatively easier to manage stability compared to cell injection

● Reduction of complex variables such as immune response and cell viability

● Suitable for continuous care in daily life

Reference Papers (Based on a single paper)

Tak YJ, Lee SY, Cho AR, Kim YS. A randomized, double-blind, vehicle-controlled clinical study of hair

regeneration using adipose-derived stem cell constituent extract in androgenetic alopecia. Stem Cells Transl

Med. 2020;9(8):839–849. doi: 10.1002/sctm.19-0410. PMID: 32420695.


Why Stem Cell Growth Factors Are Gaining Attention for Hair Loss



Androgenetic alopecia is caused by the shortening of the growth phase of hair follicles due to the influence of DHT (dihydrotestosterone), and

It is a condition in which hair follicles gradually become miniature as the resting phase becomes prolonged.

ADSC-CEIt contains the following growth factors.

● HGF: Promotes hair follicle cell proliferation and growth

● VEGF: Improves blood flow around hair follicles and induces neovascularization

● IGF-1: Extension of the growth phase (Anagen)

● KGF: Activation of hair follicle cells

In other words, it is not simply about inhibiting the progression of hair loss.

It has been suggested that it may act to restore the growth environment of weakened hair follicles.


Randomized double-blind clinical trial that increased research reliability




The biggest reason this study is attracting attention is that it is not a simple case report. Randomized

Double-blind, vehicle-controlled clinical trialThe point is that it was designed as such.

Research Overview

● Research Institutions: Pusan ​​National University College of Medicine / Pusan ​​National University Yangsan Hospital

● Subjects: 38 patients with androgenetic alopecia

● Average age: 45.3 years old

● Treatment Period: 16 weeks

● Treatment method: Apply to scalp twice a day

● Evaluation Tool: Phototrichogram

A phototrichogram precisely photographs a specific area of ​​the scalp to determine the number (density) and hair thickness (diameter)

It is an objectively analyzed testing method with higher reliability than subjective evaluation.


Significant hair improvement effect confirmed after 16 weeks



1. Increase in hair count

● ADSC-CE treatment group: +28.1%

● Placebo group: +7.1%

The treatment group showed an improvement rate approximately four times higher than the control group.

2. Increase hair thickness

● ADSC-CE treatment group: +14.2%

● Placebo group: 6.3%

A change in the direction of the thinning hair becoming thicker again was observed.

3. Fast response speed

A statistically significant difference was already observed starting from the 8-week mark, and

The effect was maintained and increased up to 16 weeks.

4. Stability

No serious adverse events were reported during the study period, and blood test results also

It was maintained stably.


Clinical Significance and Considerations

While existing hair loss treatments have primarily focused on inhibiting DHT or improving blood flow, ADSC-CEis more fundamentally

It is differentiated by a regenerative medical approach that restores the hair follicle microenvironment itself.

In particular, it has the following meanings.

● Presents the possibility of realizing stem cell-derived effects without cell injection

● Securing high-quality clinical evidence conducted by domestic researchers

● Presenting the potential for a new platform for future hair loss regenerative treatment

However, points to consider together

This study yielded very meaningful results, but the sample size was relatively small with 38 participants.

The observation period was also 16 weeks. Therefore, the following additional studies are necessary in the future.

● Large-scale multi-institutional research

● Analysis of long-term maintenance effects

● Verification of combination efficacy with existing treatments

● Analysis of Responses by Detailed Types of Male/Female Pattern Hair Loss





The clinical trial announced by the Pusan ​​National University Hospital research team is Adipose-derived stem cell extract (ADSC-CE)of

This is a representative domestic study that showed that hair count and thickness can be significantly improved with external application alone.

This means that hair loss treatment is moving away from a focus on simple suppression, Treatment paradigm centered on hair follicle regeneration and recoveryThat it is moving to

This can be considered an example that demonstrates this.

The approach to hair loss treatment must vary depending on the individual's stage of progression, cause, and scalp condition.

Therefore, it is most important to establish a customized treatment strategy after consulting with medical professionals based on the latest research results.