New drug could be the answer to obesity and baldness

A leading Melbourne dermatologist has discovered a protein that could potentially combat baldness and obesity.

Two years ago, 12-year-old Alice Dimitroulis began losing clumps of hair and was diagnosed with the autoimmune disease alopecia areata.

There is no cure, but a new discovery might one day replace the painful injections Alice endures every six weeks.

“What we discovered is that when the hairs are growing, the fat thickens and when the hairs move into the resting phase of the hair cycle the fat's reduced,” said Professor Rodney.

The fat tissue beneath the bald spot is 50 per cent thinner than beneath neighbouring follicles, which means the protein that activates hair growth also produces a fat altering chemical.

“If we can reproduce that in a cream, then we can trim the fat by 50 per cent by applying a cream to the skin, then I think that would be a fantastic advance,” Professor Rodney said.

It could be at least a decade before this proposed alternative to liposuction becomes available on the open market.

The research was conducted in conjunction with researchers at Kings College in London

“There’s still a lot more work to be done… there’s going to be a process of trials,” he said.

It is hoped the discovery could be used to treat obesity, as well as male and female baldness and alopecia.