The team studying this found that skin has the ability to revert to a primitive or “embryonic” stage during wound healing. This means that to heal a wound, the skin transforms itself into primitive stem cells which migrate to the damaged areas and regenerate as needed.

Through manipulation of genetic pathways, researchers were able to control the regenerative reaction, and created new hair follicles. These created hair follicles performed exactly as regular hair follicles.

Taken together, this means that skin cells can be guided to behave in new ways, which has significant possibilities for improved treatment and wound healing options.

This technology may allow for treatment of follicular disorders such as hair loss and excess hair.

The technology has been licensed by beauty supply manufacturer, Follica, who are studying this method as a way to prevent and treat a variety of hair and skin disorders.