Combined 5-aminolevulinic acid and ferric ammonium citrate treatment promotes hair follicle growth by activating dermal papilla cells.

Evidence from laboratory and animal studies provides groundwork for understanding mechanisms and potential before human studies continue.

• Level A · Stronger Clinical Evidence
• Level B · Emerging clinical evidence with positive signals
• Level C · Early human research exploring benefits
• Level D · Scientific groundwork from lab and animal studies
• Emerging · Emerging topic under active research

Abstract (original English)

Although 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA) has shown potential for hair growth in previous studies, the molecular mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, we investigated the combined effect of 5-ALA with ferric ammonium citrate (FAC) in human hair follicle models. At low micromolar concentrations, 5-ALA/FAC treatment increased proliferation of dermal papilla cells, keratinocytes, fibroblasts, and adipose-derived stem cells, and rapidly activated ERK and AKT signaling. This treatment also upregulated hair-inductive genes and restored their suppression by dihydrotestosterone or oxidative stress. In functional assays, 5-ALA/FAC treatment induced hair follicle-like structures in reconstituted skin and enhanced hair shaft elongation in ex vivo organ culture. These findings indicate that 5-ALA/FAC treatment stimulates human hair follicle growth and support its potential as a therapeutic candidate for hair loss.

Evidence level

Evidence from laboratory and animal studies provides groundwork for understanding mechanisms and potential before human studies continue.

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