Yale researchers have discovered the source of signals that trigger hair growth, which they hope will lead to new treatments for baldness.

In a new study, researchers identified stem cells within the skin’s fatty layer that transmitted signals essential to spur hair growth in mice.

“If we can get these fat cells in the skin to talk to the dormant stem cells at the base of hair follicles, we might be able to get hair to grow again,” said Valerie Horsley, study author.

Men with male pattern baldness still have stem cells in follicle roots but the cells lose their ability to regenerate hair. Scientists have long known that these stem cells need signals from within the skin to grow hair, but until now have been uncertain about the source of the signals.

The researchers found that the stem cells in the skin’s fat layer that control how fat shrinks and expands as hair dies and regenerates are the same required for hair regeneration in mice.

According to researchers, besides regulating fat, these cells also produce molecules called platelet derived growth factors (PDGF) which lead to hair growth.

The researchers hope to translate these results to humans, as well as find other signals produced by the cells that may play a role in hair growth.

The study was published in the journal Cell.

As a doctor, I receive questions every day both in my practice and email inbox. Sometimes, the questions take me by surprise. Take today’s question, for example.

A man just emailed me wanting to know if he could eat his way to attractiveness. I wish I had thought of that before I settled down with my wife, especially with all the food I eat! But his question did peak my curiosity. So, here is his question and my answer.

Are there foods out there that will make a man more attractive to women? If so, what are they? Thanks! – Joshua

I could give the usual lecture on diet and exercise (we all know most women appreciate a good physique) but I decided to look at a different kind of science in approaching this question.

I’m talking about pheromones, which are chemicals that a person emits that influence the behavior or psychology of other people.

While this sounds like “fad” medicine, there is some scientific support that certain foods can influence females in mysterious ways.

One such food is celery, which naturally contains a male steroid hormone called androstenene. While widely regarded as “rabbit food”, eating celery supposedly causes your sweat glands to release the pheromone androstenal, which is used in body sprays as an aphrodisiac.

Celery is also a good source of vitamin C, potassium, folic acid, fiber, calcium and vitamin B6, so it’s definitely a good staple to have in your diet, whether it works on the ladies or not.

Also, try truffles. It isn’t the cheapest food out there, but according to researchers, truffles contain androstenone and the pheromone androstenol, just like celery.

Besides pheromones, truffles also contain high amounts of protein as well as calcium, potassium and magnesium.

Finally, add parsnips to your diet for both the pheromones and the boost of boron, which helps your body metabolize estrogen and enhances blood levels of testosterone.

Parsnips are fat-free and a good source of vitamin c, folic acid and fiber.

If you’re interested in more solid science, studies have shown that foods that contain vitamin C or zinc, such as oysters, are great for your skin and have noticeable anti-aging properties, while foods with high amounts of biotin, such as swiss chard, are good for healthy hair.

However, despite the fact that these foods may help, please remember women like respect, appreciation, good moral values and a kind and healthy heart. So don’t eat too much.

You would never think so looking at it, but the skin is an organ just like the heart or the liver. In fact, it happens to be the largest organ in the body.

The skin, as the border between the self and the outside world, is also the organ that defines us. It protects our internal organs from environmental threats. And for many people, the skin’s appearance, the presence or lack of wrinkles, for instance, is what defines aging, more so than the condition of their vital internal organs. Our skin is very important to us, but skin health is not something to which we give much (or any) thought.

The Skinny on Skin

Number of days it takes for the skin to renew itself: 28

Thickness of human skin in inches: 0.06 to 0.16

Average weight of adult male skin in pounds: 7

Surface area of adult male skin in square feet: 22

Millions of skin cells in average adult: 300

Number of hairs on a square half inch of skin: 10

Number of sweat glands in a square half inch of skin: 100

Number of feet of blood vessels in a square half inch of skin: 3.2

Number of days it takes for the skin to replace itself: 52 to 75

As that part of our body that is the most exposed to the environment, the skin’s greatest threat is the sun’s rays, and overexposure to these rays appears to be the most important factor in the development of skin cancer, which is on the rise worldwide. One out of every five Americans will develop skin cancer, and nearly 10,000 will die from it each year. Skin cancer was long considered a problem only for people over 50, but in the last couple of decades, the rate of skin cancer for people in their forties and younger has multiplied explosively. You need to think about your skin before it’s too late.

Sunny Myths

Sunscreen protects you against all ultraviolet rays from the sun.

FALSE. It protects you from the sun’s UVB rays, but no sunscreen product screens out all UVA rays, which are the cause of melanomas. So just because you put on sunscreen, you are not 100 percent protected.

You don’t need to reapply sunscreen when you come out of the water if you use waterproof sunscreen lotions.

FALSE. There’s no such a thing as a waterproof sunscreen. If you go into the water, you have to reapply these creams immediately because they get washed off.

Suntans are a sign of healthy skin.

FALSE. A tan is a sign of skin damage. The tanning occurs when the skin produces additional pigment (coloring) to protect itself against burns from the sun’s ultraviolet rays.

The sun produces two types of ultraviolet radiation. The ultraviolet A (UVA) rays, which penetrate deeper into the skin, are more responsible for melanoma, the most deadly type of skin cancer. The ultraviolet B (UVB) rays are responsible for sunburns and cause nonmelanomas, the squamous and basal cell skin cancers. Though melanomas account for only 4 percent of skin cancers, they are responsible for nearly 75 percent of all skin cancer deaths. Melanomas usually begin as flat, quarter-inch-sized, mottled, light brown to black blemishes with irregular borders. These blemishes can then turn red, blue, or white; crust on the surface; or bleed. Most frequently seen on the upper back, torso, lower legs, head, and neck, they can occur anywhere on the body.

Anyone can get skin cancer, but you are at increased risk if you

–have a family history of skin cancer

–have many moles or large moles

–have naturally blond or red hair

–have blue or green eyes

–have had five or more sunburns

–have been overexposed to the sun early in life

–are Caucasian with fair skin

While skin cancer is the most common type of cancer, and kills more young women than any other type of cancer, it is also the most preventable.

The best defense against skin cancer is sun protection. Because the sun’s ultraviolet rays can damage the cellular structure of the skin, the use of sun protection is important beginning at a young age and continuing throughout life. Whenever you are out in the sun, it’s a good idea to use a sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or higher. Apply it 15 to 30 minutes before going outdoors, and reapply it every two hours. If you can’t avoid being out and about in the hours of peak sunlight—ten a.m. until four p.m.—seek the shade whenever possible and wear a hat, visor, sunglasses, and other protective clothing during prolonged periods of sun exposure.

Since skin cancer has a 95 percent cure rate when detected early, by your late thirties you should have a skin physical every two years. This is particularly important if you are at greater risk for skin cancer. At a skin physical, a dermatologist will go over your entire body looking for atypical birthmarks, blemishes, and moles. This exam could save your life.

Skin cancers aside, chronic sun exposure also creates skin stains and premature wrinkling. Smoking, too, is bad for the skin. On the other hand, the aging of the skin can be slowed by a good diet. Certain foods, like salmon and the omega oils found in salmon, have been found to be extremely beneficial for skin health. On the other hand, while skin creams may reduce dryness, or improve excessive oiliness, they will not alter the overall health of the skin. Creams merely affect the superficial layer of the skin. Good skin health comes from within.

African American women suffering from scarring hair loss may have weaves, braids and other hair-grooming traditions at least partly to blame, the Los Angeles Times reported.

The condition, called central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia, is a type of hair loss that spreads from the middle of the scalp outward. The hair loss spreads as hair follicles die and are replaced by scar tissue.  It appears to be especially prevalent among African American.

To better understand the condition, Cleveland researchers surveyed 326 women about their medical history and hair care, among other things.

They found that those with little or no sign of hair loss were less likely to have used hot combs to straighten their hair than those with significant hair loss and less likely to have had braids, extensions or weaves.

These hairstyles, which are generally maintained for long periods of time, can put stress on the hair and lead to hair loss and scarring.  It can turn into a vicious cycle, researchers said, because women begin turning to the hairstyles to hide hair loss, and the hairstyles in turn cause more hair loss.

Researchers also found a link between the scarring hair loss and type 2 diabetes and say the condition may serve as a useful warning to physicians to tests their patients for diabetes and other metabolic dysfunction.

Click here to read more from the LA Times.