Researchers have showed how hair growth activated fat tissue growth in the skin below the hair follicle could lead to the development of a cream to dissolve fat.
In particular, the protein that activated hair follicle growth was shown to also inhibit fat production.
The research was led by Professor Fiona Watt at King's College London in collaboration with Professor of Dermatology Rodney Sinclair from the University of Melbourne and Epworth Hospital.
Professor Sinclair said that the specific chemicals identified in this study could be produced synthetically and used in creams for topical application to the skin to modulate growth of fat beneath the skin.
He said that a cream could trim fat specifically where it was applied by 'pausing' the production of factors that contribute to fat cell growth.
The research has been published in journal PNAS.