TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — A topical serum developed by Taiwanese researchers has shown potential as a treatment for baldness after it restored hair in laboratory mice within 20 days.

A research team at National Taiwan University, led by Lin Sung-jan (林頌然) from the Department of Biomedical Engineering, published a study on Oct. 22 demonstrating the serum's efficacy, per NewScientist. The mechanism for hair growth is naturally derived fatty acids that stimulate hair follicles.

Lin said the team was intrigued by how fat tissue influences hair growth. In earlier experiments, they found that after skin irritation, fat cells called adipocytes shrink just before hair begins to regrow.

This observation led them to hypothesize that adipocytes release fatty acids through lipolysis, providing energy for hair regeneration. To explore this further, they repeated the experiment and examined the cells more closely.

The researchers induced eczema on shaved mice by applying an irritating compound to patches on their backs. Within 10 days, hair follicles in these areas entered an active growth phase, with new hair visibly emerging.

In contrast, areas without eczema, and other shaved mice that were not made to develop the skin condition, showed no hair regrowth. The researchers observed that the effect appeared to be driven by immune cells known as macrophages migrating into the fat layer beneath the mice’s skin.

These macrophages signaled fat cells to release fatty acids, which were absorbed by hair follicle stem cells. This uptake stimulated the stem cells to generate more mitochondria, boosting their energy supply and promoting hair growth.

The team then tested whether fatty acids alone, without irritation, could trigger regrowth. They prepared serums containing various fatty acids dissolved in alcohol and applied them to shaved areas of mice that had no irritation.

Treated areas were compared with untreated regions and other shaved mice. “We found that only monounsaturated fatty acids rich in adipose tissues, such as oleic acids and palmitoleic acids, are effective in promoting hair regeneration when topically applied to skin,” Lin explained.

Lin said that the researchers, who have patented the serum, have also observed encouraging results when applying it to human hair follicles in the laboratory. They now plan to test various dosages directly on people’s scalps.

The team does not anticipate serious side effects, as oleic acid and palmitoleic acid occur naturally in the body and in many plant oils. He told NewScientist, “I personally applied these fatty acids, dissolved in alcohol, on my thighs for three weeks and I found it promoted hair regrowth.”