Hair Follicle Stem Cells: What are they?

A stem cell is a cell that has the ability to become many different types of cells depending on the conditions. In essence, it can wear many hats, take on many roles depending on the conditions. Once a stem cell changes into a new cell type there is no going back - it needs to keep its new job.

Once of the most revolutionary studies that changed the face of the field of hair medicine was Dr George Cotsarelis's study in 1990 that the hair follicle bulge area contains stem cells. Dr Cotsarelis is Professor at the University of Pennsylvania in the United States


REFERENCE
Cotsarelis G, Sun TT, Lavker RM. Label-retaining cells reside in the bulge area of pilosebaceous unit: implications for follicular stem cells, hair cycle, and skin carcinogenesis. Cell. 1990 Jun 29;61(7):1329-37.