Naturally occurring **deoxyribose** gel shows early promise for **hereditary-patterned baldness (androgenic alopecia)**

Researchers reported in 2024 that a simple sugar naturally found in the body might open up a new route to treating hereditary-patterned baldness, the most common form of hair loss affecting both men and women globally.

The work centres on deoxyribose - the “deoxyribose” component of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) - which the team had originally been exploring for an entirely different purpose.

From wound healing research to a surprise hair-growth signal at the University of Sheffield and COMSATS University

The story began when scientists at the University of Sheffield and COMSATS University in Pakistan were testing how naturally occurring sugars support wound repair in mice when applied topically. While monitoring treated skin lesions, they noticed something unexpected: fur around the treated areas returned more quickly than it did in untreated animals.

That observation prompted the group to dig deeper into whether deoxyribose might actively encourage hair growth rather than simply coinciding with healing.

The original article referenced a video summary of the research.

June 2024 study design: a mouse model of testosterone-driven hair loss

In a study published in June 2024, the researchers used male mice with testosterone-driven hair loss. They removed fur from the animals’ backs and then, once per day, applied a small amount of deoxyribose sugar gel directly onto the exposed skin.

Within a matter of weeks, the treated area showed what the authors described as robust regrowth: the fur returned with long, thick hairs rather than sparse coverage.

How the deoxyribose gel performed against minoxidil (Rogaine) - and where finasteride (Propecia) fits in

The researchers found the deoxyribose gel was effective enough that, in their mouse experiments, it performed about as well as minoxidil, a widely used topical treatment for hair loss best known by the brand name Rogaine.

Tissue engineer Sheila MacNeil of the University of Sheffield explained the potential mechanism in practical terms, suggesting hair-loss treatment might be as straightforward as using a naturally occurring deoxyribose sugar to enhance blood supply to hair follicles and, in turn, encourage growth.

This matters because hereditary-patterned baldness, also known as androgenic alopecia (often discussed as androgenetic alopecia), is a common condition shaped by genetics, hormone levels, and ageing - and it typically appears differently in males and females.

Despite affecting up to 40% of the population, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has so far approved only two drugs for this condition:

• Minoxidil, available over the counter, which can slow shedding and trigger some regrowth but does not work for everyone.
• Finasteride, commonly sold as Propecia, an oral prescription treatment for men that works by blocking the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone. It is not approved for female patients.

While finasteride can reduce hair loss in roughly 80–90% of male patients, it must be taken continually after starting. It has also been linked with side effects that can be unwanted and, in some cases, severe, including erectile dysfunction, testicular or breast pain, reduced libido, and depression.

As MacNeil and colleagues - led by COMSATS biomaterials researcher Muhammad Anjum - noted in their paper, “the treatment of androgenetic alopecia remains challenging”.

What the researchers tested: deoxyribose gel, minoxidil, and both together

To explore the effect systematically, the team produced a biodegradable, non-toxic gel made from deoxyribose, then applied it to mouse models of male-pattern baldness. They also ran comparisons using:

• a gel without active medicine (control),
• minoxidil alone,
• and a combination of deoxyribose gel and minoxidil.

Compared with mice that received an inactive gel, animals treated with the deoxyribose gel began forming new hair follicles.

Across the study, both minoxidil and the sugar gel produced around 80–90% hair regrowth in mice with male pattern baldness. Using both treatments together, however, did not substantially improve outcomes beyond either treatment on its own.

The team documented progress with photographs taken at different points across a 20-day trial, and reported that the difference between treated and untreated skin was visually apparent.

Why might deoxyribose thicken and lengthen hair? Clues from blood vessels and skin cells

The researchers do not yet have a definitive explanation for why the deoxyribose gel drives longer, thicker hair growth in mice. Even so, they observed meaningful changes around treated sites, including increases in blood vessels and skin cells.

They highlighted a plausible link between circulation and follicle performance, writing that improved blood supply to the hair bulb is associated with a larger bulb diameter and increased growth.

Where this could lead: alopecia care, chemotherapy-related regrowth, and the need for human studies

If deoxyribose gel proves effective in humans, it could potentially be used not only for alopecia linked to hereditary-patterned baldness, but also to support regrowth of hair, eyelashes, and eyebrows after chemotherapy. The authors also stressed that this is an area that has not received enough attention, arguing that fresh approaches are required.

One important limitation is that the experiments were conducted only in male mice. The researchers suggested that further work could test whether these natural sugars might also help female mice with testosterone-driven alopecia.

Beyond sex differences, translating a topical treatment from mice to people typically demands careful optimisation - for example, ensuring the gel’s stability, skin penetration, dosing, and long-term safety on human scalp skin. Any future product would also need controlled clinical trials and regulatory scrutiny before it could sit alongside existing options such as minoxidil and finasteride.

It is also worth noting that “hair loss” is not a single condition: many people experience shedding or thinning for reasons other than androgenic alopecia, including autoimmune disease, nutritional deficiencies, medication effects, or scalp inflammation. A treatment aimed at hereditary-patterned baldness may not address those other causes, so accurate diagnosis would remain essential even if deoxyribose ultimately proves helpful.

Publication details

MacNeil described the work as early-stage, adding that while the results look encouraging, they require further investigation.

The study was published in Frontiers in Pharmacology.

An earlier version of this article was first published in July 2024.