So I've wanted to write this post for the last couple days; just me sharin' some thoughts on 2016 and forthcoming things.
First, a bit of my own history:
Last summer, hairloss started to hit me and fast. At first, I just started coping; believing there was nothing I could do about it; it didn't work. Some years prior, I realized I didn't have the kinds of people I wanted in my life and that to get them, I'd have to make to make changes to the first impression people would get looking at me.
I cut my long hair, started taking real good care of it; dressing a lot better, and leaving the standard jeans and metal-band T-shirts in the dust; getting my teeth worked, on etc. It changed my life completely and I could never go back to who I was before. Suddenly, I wasn't asked if I sold weed anymore, no "random" questions from suspicious cops about where I was headed when I'd go to the corner store at night, I got hired by every job I applied at and girls — attractive ones, even! — actually agreed to not just talk to me, but go out on dates too.
Then, when one my worst fears started happening at age 23/24, threatening to ruin what I worked so hard to improve, it took 3 doctors before one told me there was actually something that could be done about it: finasteride and minoxidil. Just a few weeks after I started treatment, the Tsuji deal was announced. Since then, I've become concerned with not just about what I can do for it today, but what I might be able to do about it tomorrow.
TL;DR - Thoughts On Developing Treatments:
• Topicals aren't something I see as ever being a true solution, but the FIDIA lotion has some solid backing. If it goes well for the company beyond Brotzu's research, we could possibly see it next year and could be a good alternative to finasteride and minoxidil. It's also a viable option for AA, which is good.
I don't know much about Kelopesia, because there isn't much about it beyond marketing hype. To be honest, if it weren't coming from a university, I'd say it was a scam 100%; hope I'm wrong.
• Wounding is something I feel neither great enthusiasm nor extreme doubt for. Based on findings dating years back, I think Follica probably will wind up producing hair. Whether the results will be significant enough or not, is anybody's guess.
• Injections like Histogen and Shiseido/RepliCel are what I see as being the most likely near-future solutions to hairloss, though (especially in the former's case) likely won't be a solution for people ranking high on the Norwood scale. Histogen will probably be the first to make it to market; it's a real treatment and it works.
ShisedoCel is what I'm most eagerly anticipating the forthcoming results of. Given RepliCel's latest data, with more coming, I think it's promising; growing a full head of hair from it may not be out of the question. If it works out, it would be the best method as it is not nearly as resource intensive or as invasive as other methods and will certainly not be as expensive. Follicles crossed.
• Hair Multiplication is the big one. I don't even need to say that Tsuji is obviously the one closest to having this commercialized. Organ Tech stated that their research has also shown them means of solving the epithelial culturing problem, research from other teams last year shows people on the right track with this too and companies like Hairclone, TissUse and L'Oreal's partner feel the tech is there to do it, with TissUse looking at beginning clinical trials around the time of Tsuji.
I really do believe that this endeavor is going to succeed, given all the great research surrounding it even dating back to when Dr. Jahoda grew new hair from his wife's arm.
It will be bitter sweet, though. Especially for Tsuji, his method is quite complex and requires many trained surgeons, automation, facilities, employees, etc. As per the interview...this is going to be pricey and will take many years yet before the technology is available across the globe at a price anyone past NW2...3 at the most, could afford. I suspect that for slick bald people, this is likely not going to be a realistic option until they're long past their "prime" (youth), so to speak.
So until then, we've got at least one more year of finasteride, minoxidil and transplants, but in the meantime we can look forward to clinical data and the beginnings of historic human trials.
Let me know what you think; agree or disagree. Offer up your own thoughts.
Unless you're just going to be a self-righteous, dislike-slinging doubtful, pessimistic, patronizing dick about it. If so, kindly gtfo now.
