A naturally occurring sugar found in the body may hold the key to treating male pattern baldness, according to a collaborative study from England’s University of Sheffield and COMSATS University in Pakistan.

While testing 2-deoxy-D-ribose (deoxyribose), a sugar that forms the backbone of DNA, for its wound-healing properties in mice, researchers made a surprising discovery: subjects treated with the sugar gel regrew fur more rapidly than their untreated counterparts.

Intrigued, the researchers applied deoxyribose to mice with testosterone-induced hair loss, a condition used to mimic male pattern baldness. Within weeks, those treated with the gel saw robust hair regrowth, matching the effectiveness of minoxidil, a widely used hair loss treatment.

Researchers believe the deoxyribose gel may work by stimulating new blood vessels around the hair follicles, promoting thicker and longer hair growth. Both the sugar gel and minoxidil showed 80-90% hair regrowth in trials, but combining them provided no additional benefit.

Hereditary pattern baldness affects up to 40% of people worldwide, and is influenced by genetics, hormones and age. With limited treatment options, the deoxyribose gel offers a promising, inexpensive and potentially safer alternative.

“This is a badly under-researched area, and hence new approaches are needed,” said study co-author, Professor Sheila MacNeil. “The results are promising and warrant further investigation.”

If proven effective in humans, the sugar-based gel could extend beyond baldness, potentially helping treat chemotherapy-induced hair loss or alopecia in women.