Exosomes are the latest buzzword in hair loss treatments. Do they work for everyone?

Think of exosomes as tiny messengers that travel between your cells, delivering important bits of information. They play a critical role in drug delivery systems.

Representational image | Pexels

It’s time to talk about a tiny but mighty molecule: the exosome. Its uses in hair therapy and next-generation hair treatments are giving stem cell therapy a run for its money.

If you feel like your hair has been thinning, shedding, or just straight up refusing to grow, exosomes might be the solution you’ve been looking for.

So what are exosomes, and can they really bring your hair back to life? Let’s find out. 

What are exosomes?

Think of exosomes as tiny messengers that travel between your cells, delivering important bits of information. It was previously thought that they were just cellular junk. But as it turns out, they’re actually VIPs carrying growth factors, protein, and genetic material between cells.

Exosomes are microscopic, membrane-bound sacs. Since their discovery in 1983, research has revealed their critical role in cell-to-cell communication, disease transmission, and drug delivery systems.

Today, exosomes are the buzzword in regenerative medicine. From healing physical wounds to anti-ageing treatments and even hair growth, they’re showing serious potential.

They originate in the following areas of our body:

• Stem cells
• Adipose or fat tissue 
• Hair follicle cells

How do exosomes help with hair loss?

If your hair follicles have been acting out due to genetics, stress, or hormonal changes, exosome therapy could be the thing they actually respond to.

1. Triggering the growth phase for hair follicles

Hair growth happens in cycles: growth (anagen), rest (telogen), and shedding (exogen). Sometimes, your hair follicles tend to get stuck in the telogen phase. And exosomes can nudge them back into the growth phase. 

2. Fighting scalp inflammation

Conditions like alopecia areata, psoriasis, or the common seborrheic dermatitis can really mess with your hair growth. The anti-inflammatory properties of exosomes can calm your scalp so that your hair follicles can focus solely on growing and thriving. 

3. Boosting blood flow to the scalp

Healthy hair can’t grow without a healthy blood supply. Exosomes promote angiogenesis, which is another way of saying ‘blood vessel formation’. This process makes sure that your hair follicles get all the nutrients they need.

4. Delivering growth factors

Exosomes contain proteins and growth factors that help thicken your hair, improve its density, and speed up regrowth.

5. Helping with tissue repair

For those with scarring alopecia, a condition where hair follicles are damaged completely, early research suggests that exosomes could enable tissue repair. More studies on this are needed, but it’s a promising lead.

Does exosome therapy work for everyone?

Exosome therapy works for people who have:

• Pattern baldness or androgenetic alopecia
• Patchy hair loss or alopecia areata
• Hair thinning caused by stress, ageing, or hormonal imbalance
• Scalp inflammation conditions, such as dermatitis or psoriasis
• Not seen an improvement after PRP therapy or minoxidil

Let’s be clear—exosomes are not magic. If your hair loss is due to severe scarring, nutritional gaps, or other medical conditions, I would strongly suggest consulting your trusted dermatologist before considering exosome therapy.

What to expect from exosome therapy

In my professional opinion, exosome therapy is a promising option for hair restoration, but injections aren’t the only approach. While injections deliver concentrated results, topical application (combined with microneedling or specialised massage techniques) can also be effective, especially for patients hesitant about needles.

Since regulatory approvals for these methods are still evolving, dermatologists prioritise personalised care, offering alternatives that align with each patient’s comfort level and goals.

If you do opt for injections, here’s how they’ll be administered:

1. Consultation

• Your trusted dermatologist will first check your scalp.
• They’ll review your medical history and confirm if exosomes are right for you.

2. Treatment 

• Your scalp will be cleaned, and a numbing cream will be applied.
• Exosomes will be slowly injected into the areas where your hair is thinning.
• If you’re uncomfortable with needles, your dermatologist will apply the treatment topically through microneedling or derma rolling.

3. After-effects

• Some redness or tenderness might happen, but it fades away quite fast.
• Results will start to show in six to eight weeks, and you’ll have healthier hair in around three to six months.

The exosomes I use at my practice are recommended by trusted dermatologists. However, since they aren’t approved by the US FDA, I only apply them topically.

I prefer to avoid direct injections to the scalp unless they’re PRP–based. In my years of experience, I have seen the best results when PRP injections are combined with exosomes.

Dr Deepali Bhardwaj is a Consultant Dermatologist, Max Hospital, Saket. She is also an anti-allergy specialist, laser surgeon and internationally trained aesthetician. She tweets @dermatdoc. Views are personal.

(Edited by Prasanna Bachchhav)