Hair loss affects over 85% of men [1] and 55% of women [2] at some point in their lives. This can have a significant negative impact on their mental health, causing psychological issues such as depression, social withdrawal, anxiety and low self-esteem [3]. That is why scientists are constantly looking for new and improved treatments to curb hair thinning and restore hair growth.
Exosome hair loss therapy is among the most recent treatments. While large-scale clinical trials are still needed, preliminary studies show some promising results [4].
This article will tell you everything you need to know about this emerging therapy, such as:
Exosome hair therapy is a hair loss treatment that involves using tiny structures called exosomes to stimulate your hair follicles for growth [5]. It is similar to stem cell treatment for hair, but it does not use entire cells, just some small particles they produce.
Exosomes are microscopic structures secreted and used by cells to communicate with each other. They carry genetic information, proteins, lipids, enzymes and growth factors between cells, helping them coordinate to perform different functions such as growing and multiplying or defending/repairing tissues [5][6]. Basically, they are tiny messengers produced by your body and sent out to provide cells with signals and instructions, as needed.
Exosomes can be extracted from a variety of cells, such as those found in the human skin (keratinocytes), the lining of blood vessels (endothelial cells), immune cells or mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) [6]. Some can even be extracted from non-human sources, such as salmon embryonic cells or bovine colostrum (the fluid that feeds the calf right after birth) [7].
Unlike stem cell therapy, where the cells are usually extracted from the patient’s own tissue (such as fat tissue), exosomes are normally extracted from donor tissue or even from animals (e.g. fish, pigs, cows) or animal products (e.g. bovine colostrum). They are carefully processed and stored in laboratories, under strict safety and quality supervision. Your hair clinic procures the treatments from the labs that produce them. They normally come pre-packaged and frozen and are thawed and prepared for use right before your treatment.
The technician performing the procedure will walk you through the process, and they may offer optional local anaesthesia to make your experience more comfortable. Then they will inject the exosome hair loss treatment in the areas of your scalp affected by alopecia. Finally, they will provide you with aftercare instructions, such as refraining from washing your hair on the day of your treatment.
While research into using exosomes to treat hair loss is still in its early days, scientists have reasons to believe that these microstructures can benefit hair growth in the following ways [5][6]:
Research into exosome hair loss therapy is still in its early stages and few trials have been conducted so far. Moreover, it is difficult to establish the overall effectiveness of this type of treatment, as results can differ widely, depending on the type of cells the exosomes were derived from, their processing method and each study’s individual design.
However, the few studies that have been performed in vivo had promising results. Here are the findings of some of the most notable:
While more research is needed to determine the safety profile of exosome treatments for hair, none of the human studies performed so far reported any serious adverse reactions [16][17]. This treatment is also deemed safer than stem cell therapy, as it is presumed to have a lower risk (if any at all) of causing cancerous tumours [16]
However, exosome hair loss therapy is not currently FDA-approved. Moreover, the FDA has issued an alert regarding using exosome products [18]. Serious adverse events such as fungal infections were reported in 2019 by patients who received exosome treatments for different conditions (not hair loss related). The contamination occurred due to substandard manufacturing practices. This means it was not the exosomes themselves that caused the adverse reactions, but their faulty handling which allowed germs to get into the cultures [16].
Moreover, since exosome hair treatments are injectable, you may experience a series of minor side effects, such as:
More comparative studies are necessary to determine which of these two treatments is more effective against hair loss. However, one very small preliminary study [19] performed on only 5 patients with androgenetic alopecia (3 who received platelet-rich plasma (PRP) hair treatment and 2 who received exosome treatment) found exosome hair therapy clearly superior. That is because a single dose of this treatment outperformed 5-6 sessions of PRP therapy when it comes to curbing hair loss.
Moreover, combining PRP with exosome hair loss treatment seems to yield superior results compared to PRP therapy alone in preliminary studies. A small trial performed on 11 patients with androgenetic alopecia who received this combination treatment revealed hair loss reversal in 51.6% of participants who received combination treatment, compared to 21.5% among those who received PRP treatment alone [16][27].
On average, one session of exosome hair loss treatment in the UK costs between £500 and £800. For the best results, it is recommended to get 3-5 sessions spaced 2 weeks apart. That means that you can expect to pay between £1500 and £4000 for a full course of treatment.
Some clinics offer discounts if you purchase several sessions at once. But beware of prices that seem too good to be true, as they can sometimes hide unsafe or unhygienic practices. And always make sure the clinic where you get your hair loss treatment has a good CQC rating.
No, exosome hair loss treatment is not a permanent cure for baldness. The effect wears off after about 6-12 months. After that, you will need a refresher session to keep enjoying the benefits of exosome hair therapy. The only currently available hair growth treatment that you can get once and enjoy forever is a permanent hair transplant.
Patient before and 8 months after his 1200-graft FUE hair transplant at the Wimpole Clinic
If you are looking for other good ways to reduce hair loss instead of (or alongside) exosome hair therapy, here are some proven treatment alternatives.
This simple, outpatient procedure can permanently restore hair growth to balding areas of your scalp. A hair transplant involves harvesting healthy hair follicles from the back of your head and implanting them into your thinning spots.
While you will need to wait up to a year to see your final results, you will be able to enjoy your hair transplant after 10 years and more, regardless of whether you opt for FUE or FUT surgery. Check out our before and after hair transplant gallery to get a first-hand idea of what successful hair restoration can do for you.
While it appears to be less effective than exosome hair therapy, PRP treatment has solid research behind it that shows it helps regrow hair safely in a number of conditions, such as male pattern baldness, alopecia areata or traction alopecia [20].
PRP therapy involves drawing a small sample of blood from your arm and separating the platelet-rich plasma from the other blood fractions. A fine needle is then used to inject it into the problem areas on your scalp. Since PRP is rich in growth factors, it can stimulate your hair follicles for growth, help them regenerate and repair the small blood vessels that keep them nourished.
Just like exosome hair loss therapy, stem cell hair treatments are relatively new and not yet FDA-approved. However, they also show promising results for curbing hair loss and restoring growth [21].
The procedure involves extracting stem cells from a small sample of the patient’s fat tissue or hair follicles (sometimes, other tissues are also used). These are then multiplied, processed and injected into their balding areas.
If your hair loss is not yet very advanced, your trichologist may recommend hair loss medications, such as Minoxidil or Finasteride. Minoxidil works by dilating the small blood vessels in your scalp so more oxygen and nutrients can reach your hair follicles. It works against several types of hair loss, including androgenetic alopecia, alopecia areata or chronic telogen effluvium [22].
Finasteride works by lowering the levels of DHT in your blood, so it is normally only prescribed for treating male pattern baldness [23]. In some cases, it can also be recommended to postmenopausal women for female pattern baldness, but premenopausal women can’t use Finasteride, as it can cause birth defects and hormonal imbalances.
If you have noticed the first signs of hair thinning and balding, it is important you get the right treatment if you’re worried about hair loss. The sooner you address this problem, the better chances you have of curbing and even reversing your hair loss.
Book a consultation today with one of our experienced trichologists. They will make sure you get an accurate diagnosis and recommend the best hair loss treatment for men (or, respectively, the best hair loss treatment for women) with your type of alopecia.
Furthermore, if you are interested in surgical hair restoration, our surgeons will also let you know whether you would make a good candidate for a hair transplant. If you are eligible, they will walk you through the entire procedure and answer all of your questions so you can make the right decision for you.
Take a look at these frequently asked questions for more information on exosome hair therapy.
Yes. Exosomes obtained from different types of cells have specific properties. For example, those derived from cells in the lining of your blood vessels are better for wound healing, while those derived from fat MSCs or dermal papillae are better for controlling hair loss [6].
Ask your trichologist where the exosomes used in the hair treatments they offer were sourced and how that type of exosome helps with hair loss.
Yes, PRP treatments do contain some exosomes. However, in vitro research shows that even if you extract the exosomes from platelet-rich plasma and inject them into your scalp, they are likely not effective against hair loss [16]. So while PRP is indeed a proven hair growth treatment, its effects are probably not due to the exosomes it contains. That is why PRP and exosome hair treatments can be successfully combined for superior hair growth results compared to PRP alone [19].
Yes, it is generally safe to use animal cell-derived exosomes to treat your hair loss, as they have the same structure as human cell-derived ones [24]. There are no known cases of severe adverse reactions to them as long as they are properly processed and stored.
However, there are ethical concerns related to using animal-sourced exosomes for cosmetic treatment, since some see this as a form of animal exploitation [25].
While it can be difficult to know exactly how your exosome hair loss treatment was processed and stored, your best bet is to always get it at a reputable hair clinic. Top-tier facilities normally collaborate with the best laboratories, which are held to the highest standards of safety and quality. If you want to put your mind at ease, ask your trichologist about the credentials of the laboratory that produces your treatment.
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