Beatrice Lang
Electrical stimulation has been found to be an effective treatment for hair loss and has shown promising results in promoting hair growth. This method, also known as Electro Tricho Genesis (ETG) or Electrotherapy, is a non-invasive and non-pharmacological approach that utilizes low-frequency electric pulses to stimulate hair follicles and enhance hair regeneration. The technology has been tested on animal models, showing increased hair follicle density and longer hair shaft length compared to conventional pharmacological treatments. With the success of these initial studies, the next step is to evaluate the effectiveness of this technology on human hair growth.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of stimulation | Micro-current electrical stimulation (MCS) |
| Alternative names | Electrotherapy, Electro Tricho Genesis (ETG), Self-Activated Electrical Stimulation |
| How it works | Stimulates hair follicles, prolongs the growth phase, regulates secretion of hair growth factors, increases bioactivity to repair nerve, muscle and tissue damage, increases ATP synthesis |
| Effectiveness | Studies show longer, fuller hair in rats and mice than with medication |
| Advantages | Non-invasive, non-pharmacological, no side effects, low-profile, wearable, painless, long-lasting effects |
| Disadvantages | Lack of clinical confirmation of optimal ETG parameters, lack of research on ES strategy for alopecia, inconvenience in daily treatment |
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What You'll Learn
Micro-current electrical stimulation (MCS)
MCS is believed to promote hair growth by regulating the secretion of several hair growth factors, which in turn promotes the proliferation of hair follicular dermal papilla cells, prolongs the growth phase, and ultimately promotes hair regeneration. In particular, MCS increases the expression of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway and PI3K/AKT/mTOR/Fox01 pathway, which are involved in regulating cell growth, proliferation, migration, and apoptosis.
Several studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of MCS in promoting hair growth in animal models. In one study, custom-made electrodes were attached to the backs of animals, and 20 minutes of MCS was applied each day for 14 days. This study found that MCS increased cell proliferation and migration and promoted cell cycle progression and the expression of cell cycle-related proteins. Another study found that MCS increased the number of hair follicles and skin thickness in animals, with photographs showing visible hair growth over 14 days.
MCS has also been shown to be effective in promoting hair growth in humans. One study found that MCS increased the proliferation and migration of human hair follicle-derived papilla cells (HFDPC) and promoted the expression of cell cycle-related proteins. MCS has also been found to increase the mRNA expression levels of growth factors contributing to the telogen-anagen transition and hair growth promotion in telogenic mice, which is relevant to human hair growth as humans also experience the telogen-anagen transition.
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Electric stimulation devices
One of the key advantages of electric stimulation devices is their non-invasive nature. They are typically designed to be small, lightweight, and wearable, making them convenient for daily use. The devices collect energy from the wearer's body movements and convert it into electrical pulses, which are then sent into the skin. This process is painless and has been shown to produce longer and fuller hair when compared to topical treatments.
The electric pulses can promote the proliferation of hair follicular dermal papilla cells, prolong the growth phase, and ultimately enhance hair regeneration. This is achieved by regulating the secretion of hair growth factors and increasing the number of hair follicles. The stimulation can also enhance ATP synthesis and ion transportation, further supporting hair growth.
While electric stimulation devices have shown promising results in animal studies, further clinical research is needed to fully understand their effectiveness and optimal parameters for hair growth. However, the non-invasive nature, ease of use, and encouraging outcomes suggest that these devices could offer a practical solution for the billions of people suffering from hair loss worldwide.
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Electric field (EF)
The optimal EF parameters for hair growth stimulation have not been clinically confirmed, but alternating EF in the range of 0.1-10 V/cm and frequencies of <15 Hz are commonly used, causing negligible tissue damage. Electric stimulation within these parameters can enhance the influx of calcium ions into the dermal papilla cells, facilitate ATP synthesis in mitochondria, activate protein kinases, and stimulate protein synthesis and cell division.
Wearable electric stimulation devices have been developed to harness energy from body movements to power the device and deliver gentle electric pulses to the skin, providing a therapeutic effect. These devices have been shown to promote hair regeneration, increase hair follicle density, and lengthen hair shafts in laboratory rats and nude mice.
The use of electric stimulation as a hair growth treatment, also known as Electro Tricho Genesis (ETG) or Electrotherapy, offers an attractive non-surgical and non-invasive approach to reversing hair loss and male-patterned baldness. This method has advantages over pharmacological treatments, which may have side effects, and can be a safe and effective alternative for individuals experiencing thinning hair or rapid hair loss.
Overall, EF has shown promising results in promoting hair growth and regeneration by influencing cell behaviour and regulating hair growth factors. Further research and clinical studies are needed to optimize EF parameters and fully understand its mechanism of action on hair growth.
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Alternating electric field (AEF)
Electrical stimulation has shown promising results in promoting hair growth. Alternating electric field (AEF) devices have been designed to effectively promote hair regeneration. These devices are typically wearable and can collect energy from the user's body movements to generate electric pulses and provide alternating EFs to the exposed skin to stimulate hair regeneration.
The optimal ETG parameters for these devices have not been clinically confirmed, but alternating electric fields in the range of 0.1-10 V/cm and frequencies of <15 Hz are commonly used. These electric fields can enhance the influx of calcium ions into the dermal papilla cells, facilitate ATP synthesis in mitochondria, activate protein kinases, and stimulate protein synthesis and cell division. As a result, the ETG effect is believed to regulate the secretion of multiple hair growth factors, promote hair follicle (HF) proliferation, prolong the anagen stage, and ultimately promote hair regeneration.
In studies, Sprague-Dawley rats and nude mice were used to test the effectiveness of these devices. The results showed higher hair follicle density and longer hair shaft length in the rats when the device was employed compared to conventional pharmacological treatments. The device also improved the secretion of vascular endothelial growth factor and keratinocyte growth factor, alleviating hair keratin disorder and increasing the number of hair follicles.
The use of alternating electric fields for hair growth is a non-pharmacological approach that has shown promising results in animal studies. Further research is needed to confirm the optimal parameters and translate these findings to human use.
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Electrotherapy
The treatment involves generating a low-level electrical field or voltage when applied directly to the scalp, a process known as micro-current electrical stimulation (MCS). MCS is a low-current therapy with an intensity of 1 mA or less, which utilises the body's natural current (bio-current) to enhance bioactivity and repair nerve, muscle, and tissue damage.
The treatment typically lasts up to six weeks, and it is recommended to consult a trichologist to determine if Electrotherapy is suitable for an individual and to develop a personalised treatment plan. One of the benefits of Electrotherapy is its non-invasive nature, making it a painless and attractive alternative to pharmacological treatments for hair loss.
Recent innovations have led to the development of wearable electric stimulation devices that can be powered by small body movements. These devices are unobtrusive and can effectively promote hair regeneration by sending gentle electric pulses into the skin.
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Frequently asked questions
Electrical stimulation is a non-invasive treatment that uses low-level electrical fields (voltage) applied directly to the scalp to promote hair growth. It can be powered by small body movements.
Electrical stimulation can induce hair growth by stimulating follicles that are phasing out and making them active again. It can also increase the production of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and ion transportation, as well as regulate the secretion of hair growth factors.
Electrical stimulation is a non-surgical, non-invasive treatment that has been shown to be effective in promoting hair growth and is on par with or better than other current treatments. It is also painless and has long-lasting effects.
