Hair Cloning

[Jayj]

Hair Cloning, I hear the time is getting closer. Do you think it's going to wipe out hair treatment? Will people just wait and have an op? I think people will still try to prevent their hair loss before it hits. Wow, this poll thing's cool!

[HairLossFight.com]

Hello and welcom Jayj,

I don't think it will mean an end to treatments because surgery is still a pretty big deal. Also because as people gradually recede it doesn't make sense to keep going for constant refills. You probably would want to wait till you're at least a Norwood 3 before getting hair implants. So some people will try to prevent that for as long as possible... My two bits anyway.

[Tricia]

I think if it works the way they bill it, then it will largely eliminate other treatments.

The way they talk about hair cloning sounds as if people will have to go back for touch-ups. I suspect people will be encouraged to continue using minox and propecia.

Also, the thing I don't like the think about, hair cloning won't work for everyone.

[Jayj]

Also, the thing I don't like the think about, hair cloning won't work for everyone.

Really? I didn't realise this

[HairLossFight.com]

Unfortunately that is the case for all of the options available currently from treatments, to transplants. (sigh)

In the case of hair cloning, it will not help those people that have conditions like Alopecia Areata because the cloned hair will still be prone to the disease.

That is where gene therapy may come into play. Maybe a combination of gene therapy and cloning will eventually help people with conditions other than androgenetic alopecia.

One other thing I've heard, but I have been asked not to reveal the source as they are actually having some success but want to keep things under wraps until they have it down better, is that OTHER people's hair may become an option for either cloning or transplantation.

[Tricia]

Yeah, there was a little blurb about that in the Intercytex Phase II news article that was posted this week. There was some mention of using donated stem cells.

That would be a very cool thing for all of those people who hate the texture of their own hair. I'm not exactly sure how that would work, but it's fun to think about

[Jayj]

WOW! So you could actually have straight hair if your hair's always been curly. Actually, thinking about it that would look kinda wierd if all thehair on the back's curly and the hair on the top's straight. What about hair color?? Would you be able to change the colour of your hair?

Sam what's gene therapy?

[Joarje]

I would definately prefer not to lose my hair at all than lose it then get it back (with surgery).

[HairLossFight.com]

Jayj,

Gene therapy is completely different from hair cloning in that the idea is to try to try to address the genetic root of hair loss by either switching off the genes that cause it, or turning on the genes that kickstart hair into growth phase, or a combination of both.

[News]

I suspect people will be encouraged to continue using minox and propecia.

Yes, they will. Dr. Ken Washenik said so in an interview. However, I'd prefer to have regular touch-ups. I don't want to use minoxidil for the rest of my life. Going to an HM clinic once every few years (or even once a year) would be much less hassle than smearing minox on your scalp twice a day (and getting dandruff, an itchy scalp etc.).