MSU researcher hopes gel shampoo will prevent hair loss from chemo

Bryan Smith, an associate professor at Michigan State University, developed a hydrogel shampoo that he hopes will one day help people prevent chemotherapy-induced alopecia, or hair loss.

So far, the gel has only been studied on mice and rabbits. Smith hopes to secure funding to continue the research and seek federal approval.

Hair loss is among the most well-known and dreaded side-effects of chemotherapy, affecting as many as 65% of patients who undergo the treatment for cancer.

Researchers at Michigan State University hope a new discovery could one day reduce the likelihood of chemotherapy-induced alopecia, giving patients an affordable, painless option to limit the damage the medicine can cause to their hair follicles.

The solution: A shampoo-like gel that can be put on the scalp b