Could this be the cure for baldness and remedy for women to have long hair?

New Haven, USA: A cure for baldness may be on the horizon after a new drug helped a patient grow a full head of hair.

Dermatologist Dr. Brett A. King treated a 25-year-old man who was suffering from alopecia universalis.

Men (and women) will no doubt be rejoicing at the news after a 25-year-old man grew his locks back over an eight-month period.

The remedy came about after dermatologist Dr. Brett A. King used a drug designed to treat rheumatoid arthritis, at Yale University.

After taking the medication, the patient who had suffered from alopecia universalis was able to once again sprout a mane on top of his head.

To date there has been no cure or long-term treatment for the rare form of hair loss.

It's a step in the right direction, but King and his colleagues are still unwilling to declare victory just yet.

Instead they say that the findings are promising.

"It is really exciting," said King, an assistant professor of dermatology at Yale University School of Medicine.

"At the very least, this means many folks who have been told there isn't a solution may now have a solution."

King has said the next step is getting approval for a topical version of the medication and to conduct a larger trial.

The news from Yale University has sparked a new wave of optimism for sufferers and researchers.

Gary Sherwood, a spokesman for the California-based National Alopecia Areata Foundation, said: "We are excited about any research that shows potential to re-grow hair in people with alopecia areata.

"While we remain hopeful, this is a preliminary study with only one individual and needs to be further studied in larger populations."

There are several types of alopecia with the most common being alopecia areata.

For years experts have tried to find a viable cure but are yet to find a universal remedy.