The cure for male pattern baldness could already be in the human body.

The condition, which causes gradual hair loss, affects up to 50% of men worldwide.

Researchers at the University of Sheffield in the U.K. claim the fix might be found in a sugar that’s naturally present in the human body.

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The study, published in the journal Frontiers in Pharmacology, revealed that this sugar, known as 2-deoxy-D-ribose (2dDR), is involved in various biological processes in animals and humans and can stimulate hair regrowth in mice.

Scientists from U.K.’s Sheffield and COMSATS University Pakistan have studied the sugar for the past eight years, focusing on its ability to help heal wounds by forming new blood vessels.

The researchers noticed that hair around the wounds also appeared to grow more quickly compared to untreated wounds.

The scientists then tested this on testosterone-driven hair loss in mice, which is similar to the cause of male pattern baldness, according to a university press release.

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When they applied just a small dose of the sugar, new blood vessels were formed, leading to hair regrowth.

The findings suggest that the deoxy ribose sugar could be as effective as hair regrowth drugs, according to the university.

Researchers reported that a small dose of deoxy ribose sugar led to hair regrowth in mice. (iStock)

Sheila MacNeil, PhD, emeritus professor of tissue engineering at the University of Sheffield, noted that male pattern baldness could benefit from more research.

“There are only two FDA-approved drugs for this condition at present,” she wrote in a statement sent to Fox News Digital. 

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“Our U.K./Pakistan collaboration unexpectedly turned up a small, naturally occurring sugar that stimulates new blood vessel formation, and we were delighted to discover that it not only stimulates wound healing, but [also] stimulates hair growth in an animal model.”

The sugar is “natural, inexpensive and stable,” MacNeill noted, and can be delivered in an “easy to apply gel,” which the researchers plan to explore in further research.

The sugar could be produced as a hair gel, the study researcher (not pictured) suggested.  (iStock)

Dr. John Whyte, WebMD’s chief medical officer in Washington, D.C., called the study findings “intriguing” in a conversation with Fox News Digital.

“This naturally occurring sugar’s effectiveness indicates significant potential in developing new hair loss treatments,” said Whyte, who was not involved in the research.

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Current therapies “have been around for a while, have limited effectiveness and can have side effects,” the doctor noted.

Given that this research is still in the early stages, further investigation and clinical trials will be necessary to determine whether the sugar can be “safely and effectively developed into a viable cure for male pattern baldness,” Whyte added.

“More research is required before it can be considered a cure,” one doctor told Fox News Digital. (iStock)

“The public should view these results with cautious optimism,” he went on. 

“The study provides hope for new natural treatments for hair loss, but more research is required before it can be considered a cure.”

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Dermatologist Brendan Camp, M.D., in New York, also reacted to the findings, reiterating to Fox News Digital that there are limited treatments available for hair loss.

“The study provides hope for new natural treatments for hair loss, but more research is required before it can be considered a cure.”

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“A number of potential treatments have been studied, but none have been found to be curative,” said Camp, who was not involved in the research. 

“The current goal of treatment of alopecia is to help patients retain the hair they have.”

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This study could ultimately lead to a new, effective therapy if future research is successful, he said.

“The treatment in question, 2-deoxy-D-ribose (2dDR), is thought to improve hair growth by causing an increase in the number of blood vessels,” he said. 

There is currently no cure for alopecia, a dermatologist noted. (iStock)

“While potentially effective at encouraging existing hair follicles to grow, it seems unlikely that it will make follicles that have already disappeared grow back.”

He added, “While promising, this treatment requires additional studies to confirm the reproducibility, efficacy and real-world application of 2-deoxy-D-ribose (2dDR) as a treatment for alopecia.”

People who suffer from migraines — one out of every seven people globally, statistics show — know that time is of the essence.

When the first signs and symptoms appear, taking quick action can help stop the headache in its tracks — while failing to take those steps can result in a potentially debilitating episode.

People who live with migraines often suffer from daily anxiety about when the next migraine will hit, or whether it will interrupt work or other plans, noted Dr. Robert Cuyler, a psychologist in Houston, Texas, who specializes in chronic headaches.

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“That anxiety can actually lead to worsened symptoms for people whose migraines are accelerated by heightened stress levels,” he said. 

Experts agree that finding a calm, quiet and dark environment can be helpful.

“This can help reduce the sensory overload, especially visual, that is often associated with migraine onset,” said Dr. Robert Cuyler, a psychologist in Houston, Texas, who specializes in chronic headache.

HEADS UP ON MIGRAINES AS EXPERT REVEALS TIPS FOR FINDING RELIEF FROM ‘DEBILITATING’ HEADACHES

Breathwork can also be helpful, he advised. 

“Calming breathing exercises can be particularly beneficial in quieting the anxiety that frequently accompanies migraine pain,” said Cuyler, who is also chief clinical officer of Freespira, a Washington company that makes an FDA-cleared treatment for panic attacks and PTSD symptoms.

“This not only helps in immediate symptom management, but it can also have a direct impact on future situations.”

“Calming breathing exercises can be particularly beneficial in quieting the anxiety that frequently accompanies migraine pain,” an expert said. (iStock)

Other potentially helpful actions include applying temperature therapy with hot or cold compresses or sipping a caffeinated drink, according to Mayo Clinic.

ASK A DOCTOR: ‘IS IT DANGEROUS TO CRACK MY NECK OR BACK?’

While some people find relief in medications — including over-the-counter pain relievers and prescription drugs — Cuyler emphasized the power of the mind-body connection in controlling migraines.

“When a migraine strikes, people understandably run to the medicine cabinet — but it’s also essential to consider the emotional load of chronic headaches,” he said.

Finding a calm, quiet and dark environment can help alleviate migraine pain, experts said. (iStock)

“Addressing the psychological aspects of migraines is an often overlooked tool that can greatly help a person’s ability to cope with and potentially reduce the toll of these debilitating headaches.”

It can also be helpful to remind yourself that it’s just a temporary condition, according to Cuyler.

“The pain will eventually pass, and ordinary life will be possible again,” he said. 

“This approach can help reduce that anxiety and promote a sense of control, which is vital when dealing with the often unpredictable nature of migraines.”

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Cuyler also recommended reflecting on the positive events or situations you’ve avoided out of fear of a migraine.

Anyone who suffers from severe or frequent migraines should contact a health care professional for diagnosis and treatment recommendations. (iStock)

“We know that avoidance can ‘shrink’ your life and increase isolation, loneliness and eventually even depression.”

It can also be helpful to keep a migraine diary, recording any potential triggers when headaches occur.

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Anyone who suffers from severe or frequent migraines should contact a health care professional for diagnosis and treatment recommendations, experts noted.

Swedish health authorities announced the first case of the highly-infectious mpox just a day after the World Health Organization declared a global emergency for the outbreaks in Africa.

In this case, a person was infected during a stay in the part of Africa where there is a major outbreak of (the more infectious mpox formerly known as monkeypox),” the Public Health Agency of Sweden announced on Thursday.

Magnus Gisslen, a state epidemiologist with the Swedish health agency, said the person had been treated and given “rules of conduct.”

“The fact that a patient with mpox is treated in the country does not affect the risk to the general population,” Swedish officials said.

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The announcement of an infected resident in the Scandinavian country comes just a day after WHO declared the mpox outbreak a global emergency.

The U.N. health agency said there have been more than 14,000 cases and 524 deaths this year, which already exceed last year’s figures.

So far, more than 96% of all cases and deaths are in Congo.

Mpox on a child in Nigeria. (Nigeria Centre for Disease Control via WHO)

What is mpox?

Mpox, also known as monkeypox, was first identified by scientists in 1958 when there were outbreaks of a “pox-like” disease in monkeys. Until recently, most human cases were seen in people in Central and West Africa who had close contact with infected animals.

In 2022, the virus was confirmed to spread via sex for the first time and triggered outbreaks in more than 70 countries that had not previously reported mpox.

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Mpox belongs to the same family of viruses as smallpox but causes milder symptoms like fever, chills and body aches. People with more serious cases can develop lesions on the face, hands, chest and genitals.

Earlier this year, scientists identified a highly contagious form of mpox, which can kill up to 10% of people.

Mpox is transmittable and highly-contagious. (Reuters/Dado Ruvic/Illustration)

Scientists in Europe have maintained that although mpox is transmittable and highly-contagious, advanced healthcare in Sweden and other rich countries can stop the transmission before it becomes an epidemic. 

The Associated Press contributed to this report.