A method has been discovered that can completely regrow hair with just one drop – raising expectations for its application in new hair regrowth treatments.

May 15, 2026
Kyushu Dental University (Public University Corporation)

　A research group led by Professor Shoichiro Furukabu of the Division of Biochemistry at Kyushu Dental University (Campus: Kitakyushu City, Fukuoka Prefecture, President: Awano Shuji) has discovered that applying adhesive materials such as pyroxylin (*1) (*2) to the backs of shaved mice induces clear hair growth. This discovery is expected to contribute to the development of new treatment methods for alopecia and other hair loss conditions, as well as hair growth and hair restoration agents.

The results of this research were published in the journal Scientific Reports, published by Springer Nature, on May 11, 2026.

[Key points of this research presentation]

• When applied topically with adhesive materials such as pyroxylin, hair growth is induced in a manner consistent with the application site.
• Applying pyroxylin or similar substances causes the hair cycle (※4) of hair follicles (※3) that are in the resting phase to shift to the growth phase.
• This hair growth induction has been observed in multiple mouse strains, skin areas other than the back, and even in aged mice.
• Multiple hair growth induction sites can be evaluated in a single mouse.

About the Division of Biochemistry at Kyushu Dental University

Founded in 1952, the organization restarted under its current structure in 2017. It is dedicated to unraveling the mechanisms by which cells, the smallest units of life, perform various biological functions.

Research Background

　There is a great deal of social concern regarding thinning hair and hair loss, and research and development on hair regeneration and hair growth promotion is progressing worldwide. However, the mechanisms that control hair growth are complex, and it cannot be said that there are currently treatments that are fully satisfactory for thinning hair and hair loss. Therefore, there is a need to develop methods that efficiently induce hair growth and hair follicle regeneration.

　In hair follicles, the "hair cycle," consisting of the "anagen phase" (growth phase), the "catagen phase" (regression phase), and the "telogen phase" (resting phase), is repeated throughout life. In cases of thinning hair and hair loss, the growth phase is not sufficiently maintained, or the telogen phase is prolonged. Therefore, investigating how to efficiently transition hair follicles in the telogen phase into the growth phase is an important challenge in hair regeneration research. Mice are a widely used model animal in life science research, but their hair cycle, especially the telogen phase, is long, making it difficult to accurately predict when hair growth will naturally begin.

Research content and results

　A research group led by Professor Shoichiro Furukabu of the Division of Biochemistry at Kyushu Dental University, in collaboration with the Research Institute for Radiation Biology and Medicine at Hiroshima University, the West China Hospital of Stomatology at Sichuan University in China, Tokyo University of Science, and the Institute of Molecular Embryology and Genetics at Kumamoto University, has discovered that applying adhesive materials such as pyroxylin to the backs of shaved mice induces clear hair growth corresponding to the application site.

　This hair growth induction was observed in both male and female mice, and was also confirmed in multiple mouse strains, skin areas other than the back, and in middle-aged and aged mice. Histological analysis revealed wound changes and accumulation of inflammatory cells, mainly in the superficial regions of the skin, after pyroxylin treatment. Subsequently, elongation of hair follicles and formation of hair follicle structures with sebaceous glands were observed. In addition, increased expression of genes involved in the hair cycle and hair follicle formation was confirmed in parallel with the progression of hair growth.

　These results suggest that adhesive materials such as pyroxylin may have caused localized irritation to the skin surface, and that this irritation, through inflammatory responses, may have caused hair follicles in the resting phase to transition to the growth phase.

　Pyroxylin is a material that has been used in humans for wound dressing and fixation, and information on its safety has been accumulated. Therefore, it is expected that the results of this research will lead to the development of localized hair growth induction methods in the future. In addition, since this method allows for the evaluation of hair growth induction in more than 1 skin sites per mouse, it may lead to increased efficiency in hair regeneration research and a reduction in the number of animals used when examining the effects of drugs (Figure: modified from Figure 1A in this paper).

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The Next Development

　We will clarify the cellular responses and molecular mechanisms that induce hair growth. In particular, we plan to analyze how stimuli in the skin surface are transmitted to hair follicle stem cells (*5) and activate the hair growth switch. Furthermore, by applying this method, we aim to use it to search for hair growth promoting substances and evaluate drugs, and in the future, to develop new hair follicle regenerative medicine.

<Comment from the author> Professor Shoichiro Furukabu, Division of Biochemistry

Explanation of terms

*1 Pyroxylin: A type of nitrocellulose that has the property of forming a thin film on the skin surface.
*2 Adhesive material: A material that adheres to the surface of skin or tissue and forms a film upon drying or hardening.
　　　In this study, we investigated the hair growth-inducing effects of pyroxylin and several other adhesive materials.
*3 Hair follicle: A small organ in the skin that produces hair. Inside the hair follicle are cells involved in hair growth and regeneration.
*4 Hair cycle: The entire cycle from when hair grows, lengthens, falls out, and begins to grow again.
　　　Hair follicles control hair growth and shedding by repeating this cycle.
*5 Hair follicle stem cells: Stem cells involved in the regeneration of hair follicles and the progression of the hair cycle.
　　　It is activated during the transition from the resting phase to the growth phase and plays a major role in hair growth.

Thesis title

Title: Pyroxylin shortens the resting stage of the hair cycle in mice
Authors: Shoichiro Kokabu, Kunikazu Tsuji, Chou Ying-Ying, Ayako Washio, Tomohiko Shirakawa, Yusuke Ono, Quan Yuan, Osamu Kaminuma, Takuma Matsubara
Journal: Scientific Reports
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-026-52804-0

Acknowledgments

　This research was supported by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology and the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research (22KK0141, 25K02826, 25K22695), the Kenzo Suzuki Memorial Foundation for Applied Medical Science Research, the Kitakyushu Industrial and Academic Promotion Organization, the YMFG Regional Enterprise Grant Fund, the Kumamoto University Institute of Molecular Embryology and Genetics Joint Use and Collaborative Research Center, and the Radiation Disaster and Medical Science Research Center Network Project.

Contact

Kyushu Dental University, Division of Biochemistry
Professor Shoichiro Kokabu
E-mail: r14kokabu■fa.kyu-dent.ac.jp
*When sending, please replace ■ with @.

About Kyushu Dental University, a public university corporation

　Kyushu Dental College is the only public dental school and dental college in Japan, and is a "comprehensive university of oral medicine" consisting of a department of dentistry and a department of oral health care. We believe that dentistry is medical care that supports daily life and happiness through "oral health." In the Faculty of Dentistry and the Graduate School of Dentistry, we are committed to nurturing dental professionals. In addition, since its opening in 1914, the attached hospital has continued to serve as a core hospital with dental expertise that is closely connected to the local community.

Outline

• Press release document (PDF: 777KB)