Scientists have created a piece of human skin with sprouting hair, that one day might help stop hair loss in both men and women. 

How is hair loss combated through pieces of skin? 

The experiment uses organoids - small, lab grown groupings. Organoids are small, lab-grown cell groupings that are designed to model real-world organs, and in this case, skin. Rather than transplanting hairs, or regrowing them, this develop sees the actual creation of hair, which makes it even more exciting.  

This hair creation is said to be the first of its kind that is made with pluripotent stem cells. The development of organoids was led by Karl Koehler, Ph.D., from Boston Children's Hospital. An Oregon Health & Science University graduate student, Benjamin Woodruff, contributed by helping make the organoids as a post-baccalaureate research technician in the Stanford University lab of Stefan Heller, Ph.D.

The aim of this cell development is to create the human hair, rather than transfer it. For the first time ever, scientists may have found a solution for hair loss. They could have, more or less, an unlimited source of human hair follicles for research. This would be a huge step forward in the process of finding a cure for baldness.

Having access to more hair-growing skin can help researchers better understand hair growth and development -- and maybe even provide clues needed to reverse a retreating hair line. 

Source: Oregon Health & Science University

Is hair creation better than hair transplantation?

If this experiment can come to fruition, then the creation of hair would be a much better solution for hair loss then transplantation. The main reason being, with hair transplants, good donor areas are need to transfer the hair. Without a good donor, the transplantation becomes futile. 

With hair creation, there would be no donor area, or transfer, required. The hair would simply be created, and grown into the scalp. The problem is, even though scientists continue to develop this treatment, it is extremely complex, and any successful hair creation procedure would take a lot of time and money to bring to fruition. 

How likely is it that hair creation will come to market? 

Like any treatment for hair loss, this will take time. If the procedure proves to be successful in labs, it will then need to go through numerous testing phases and stages, and then it will need to be approved by certain organisations before it can be let out onto the public. 

Even if proven as a cure for baldness, expect this procedure to be very expensive, and not something that is accessible to the average earner. In a similar way to hair transplantation, the people who benefit from hair creation will be the wealthiest among our society. 

What current hair loss treatments on the market are effective? 

While we wait for developments to occur, there are ways in which you can treat and minimise hair loss, both safely and effectively. 

There are currently two medically approved hair loss treatments on the market. The first one is Finasteride - a prescription oral pill for male pattern baldness. The other one is Minoxidil - a topical treatment for men (5%) and women (2%). 

The problem is, both drugs, particularly Finasteride, can come with negative side-effects, which puts your health at risk. Common negative side-effects for Finasteride include; Low libido, erectile dysfunction, skin rash, mental health issues, and hormonal changes. 

Common negative side-effects for Minoxidil include; Dizziness, headaches, weight gain, and skin rash. However, Minoxidil is generally regarded as a safer drug to use than Finasteride. 

If, like many hair loss sufferers, you are looking to avoid the negative side-effects of medically approved drugs, then fear not, because there are some products on the market that can help slow down, and even halt hair loss, and support and promote healthy hair growth, both safely and effectively. 

The most popular natural treatments for hair loss include: 

• Hair laser treatment - According to a 2014 study, low-level laser therapy appeared to be safe and effective for hair growth in both men and women. A 2013 study of 41 males ages 18 to 48 found that laser hair treatment provided a 39 percent increase in hair growth over a period of 16 weeks. Common hair laser products include infrared hair combs/brushes and helmets. 
• Natural topical hair treatment - Natural lotions, serums, and oils can help slow down hair loss and revitalise hair growth, but the effectiveness of these types of products is limited. Hair growth serums with Keratin and Saw Palmetto are particular popular for treating hair loss. 
• Micro-needling - While used as an anti-aging skin treatment, micro-needling may also be a method of treatment for hair loss. There's even evidence that it can help a special type of hair loss known as alopecia areata. The same process of creating wounds in the skin is also thought to regenerate the health of the hair follicles. A product to use for this method is the derma roller.
  
• Multi-vitamin supplements -  Vitamins A, B, C, D, E, zinc, folic acid, biotin, Nettle Leaf, Green Tea and Saw Palmetto, can all help improve hair condition, so you're likely to find a combination of some or all of them in a range of multi-vitamin hair growth supplements. Omega 3 and 6 have also been shown to protect against hair loss and improve hair diameter and density in studies.