Hair loss—especially androgenetic alopecia (AGA)—is often misunderstood as a problem of “dead follicles.” A key component in hair biology is that the follicles remain present, but the signaling is not.
In a prior Blog post, we discussed the importance of Amplified Oxygen Therapy to promote an optimum environment to sustain and regenerate hair. Fig 1 below
Wnt Signaling is the “on off switch” for the hair follicles to regenerate. Think of Wnt signaling as a traffic light. Green is the “Go switch,” Red is the “Off Switch,” and Yellow is the “slow down” phase of hair. Fig 2 Below.
Hair growth depends on a complex communication network between: Dermal papilla cells, Follicle stem cells (bulge region), Blood vessels and the surrounding extracellular matrix. Wnt signaling is what pushes hair back into the growth phase.
The Hair Growth Cycle
Your hair is always cycling through 3 phases:
- Growth Phase (Anagen) Green Light (→ Hair is actively growing)
- Transition Phase (Catagen) Yellow Light → Slowing down
- Resting Phase (Telogen) Red Light → Hair stops growing and may shed
Wnt = The “Power Button” of Hair Growth
- Wnt ON → Follicle is energized → Hair grows
- Wnt OFF → Follicle goes quiet → Hair stops
It acts like flipping a switch in a room: Lights ON = hair growth, Lights OFF = dormancy
Why Does Wnt Turn OFF?
Several factors can block or weaken Wnt signaling:
- DHT (hormone linked to hair loss)
- Poor oxygen levels in the scalp (hypoxia)
- Inflammation
- Aging of follicle stem cells
- Reduced blood flow
These act like brakes, preventing the growth signal from reaching the follicle.
Why This Matters for Hair Restoration
Most modern hair treatments are trying to do one thing: Turn Wnt signaling back ON
Our approaches include:
- Microneedling → stimulates signaling pathways
- CRP / Exosomes / growth factors → deliver activation signals
- Low Dose Oral Minoxidil → Up regulates Dermal Papilla and ATP
- Oxygen therapy → improves scalp environment
- Photo modulation (LED) → boosts cellular energy
All roads lead to the same goal: Re-activate the follicle’s growth switch. Hair growth is not just about hair — it’s about signaling, and Wnt signaling is the master switch. ON → Growth, thickness, regeneration OFF → Thinning, weakening, hair loss.
If your hair is not becoming to you, you should be coming to us!