The McDonald's ingredient which scientists say may cure a common problem

A trip to McDonald's is seen by many as an unhealthy indulgence that will only pile on the pounds if eating too much.

But those more concerned about their receding hairlines rather than their waistlines could be heading straight to their nearest restaurant after Japanese scientists discovered a link between one fast food ingredient and hair growth.

New research has shown that the chemical dimethylpolysiloxane used in the cooking oil for the fast food giant's chips to prevent foaming might cure baldness after successfully producing new hair follicles for lab rats, The Daily Record reported.

As well as McDonald's, popular fast food restaurants KFC, Subway, Pizza Hut and Domino's are among other users of the chemical.

The discovery comes as a massive breakthrough for scientists with hair follicle germs (HFGs) being mass produced for the first time.

HFGs are the cells that fuel follicle development and Yokohoma National University's Professor Junji Fukuda has said the initial results shows great promise for human baldness.

"We hope this technique will improve human hair regenerative therapy to treat hair loss such as androgenic alopecia (male pattern baldness)," he said.

He also said the method was "very robust and promising".

Professor Fukuda explained his team mixed mouse skin cells with stem cells from mice and humans and seeded them in microwells in a custom-designed chip.

After 72 hours, the cells began to separate from each other, displaying typical HFG features.

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He revealed these cells were capable of being inserted into the backs of nude mice which would subsequently result in hair shaft generation.

"This simple self-sorted hair follicle germs preparation approach is a promising strategy for improving current hair-regenerative medicine techniques," he revealed.

Dimethylpolysiloxane, a type of silicone, is regularly used in day-to-day products including contact lenses and shampoos, with the chemical giving a smooth and shiny finish to washed hair.