January 201956
Low-level laser therapy for pattern hair loss was found to increase hair density versus sham, with low-frequency treatment working better. Adding PRP and microneedling to minoxidil was reported to improve hair growth and satisfaction versus minoxidil alone. Fractional CO2 laser with minoxidil was found to increase hair count and thickness more than minoxidil alone. Off-label topicals like latanoprost were reported to improve hair parameters, though long-term data are lacking. PRP injections outperformed topical minoxidil on photography, pull test and satisfaction, while PRP meta-analysis showed improved density over placebo, though half-head designs may inflate results. Mesotherapy injections showed no meaningful improvement over 5% topical minoxidil. Beard hair grafts survived best for transplantation, then scalp, then chest hair. Fewer androgen-receptor GGC repeats were linked to better finasteride response. Non-ablative radiofrequency showed a 54% response rate in men. Standardized scalp massage was self-reported to stabilize or regrow hair in most surveyed users.
- Comparative effectiveness of low-level laser therapy for adult androgenic alopecia: a system review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials Meta-analysis of 8 RCTs: low-level laser therapy increased hair density versus sham in AGA; low-frequency treatment worked better.
- Platelet‐rich plasma and microneedling improves hair growth in patients ofandrogenetic alopecia when used as an adjuvant to minoxidil In 93 AGA patients, adding PRP plus microneedling to minoxidil improved hair growth and satisfaction versus minoxidil alone.
- The Effect of the Fractional Carbon Dioxide Laser on Improving Minoxidil Delivery for the Treatment of Androgenetic Alopecia In 45 men, fractional CO2 laser combined with minoxidil increased hair count and thickness more than minoxidil alone over 3 months.
- Efficacy of Off-Label Topical Treatments for the Management of Androgenetic Alopecia: A Review A review finds off-label topicals like latanoprost and procyanidin oligomers improve hair parameters in male AGA, but long-term efficacy and safety data are lacking.
- The Efficacy of Platelet-Rich Plasma in the Field of Hair Restoration and Facial Aesthetics—A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis Meta-analysis: three monthly PRP injections improved hair density over placebo (~26 hairs/cm²) in mild AGA, though half-head designs may inflate results.
- Comparative study between mesotherapy and topical 5% minoxidil by dermoscopic evaluation for androgenic alopecia in male: A randomized controlled trial In a 49-man RCT, mesotherapy injections showed no meaningful improvement over 5% topical minoxidil for AGA.
- A study to compare the efficacy of platelet-rich plasma and minoxidil therapy for the treatment of androgenetic alopecia In a small RCT, PRP injections outperformed topical minoxidil on photography, pull test and satisfaction over 6 months in AGA.
- Expert consensus on the management of androgenetic alopecia in India Indian expert consensus summarizes evidence-based recommendations for choosing effective and safe treatments for androgenetic alopecia.
- A comparative study on the rate of anagen effluvium and survival rates of scalp, beard, and chest hair in hair restoration procedure of scalp In a comparison study, beard hair grafts survived best (95%), then scalp (89%) and chest hair (76%) at one year, supporting non-scalp donor hair for transplantation.
- Non-ablative radio frequency for the treatment of androgenetic alopecia In a small sham-controlled trial, 54% of men with androgenetic alopecia responded to a non-ablative radiofrequency device, with 40% gaining over 30% more hairs.
- The effect of GGC and CAG repeat polymorphisms on the androgen receptor gene in response to finasteride therapy in men with androgenetic alopecia A small study found fewer GGC repeats in the androgen receptor gene were linked to better finasteride response in men with androgenetic alopecia.
- Hypoxia improves hair inductivity of dermal papilla cells via nuclearNADPHoxidase 4‐mediated reactive oxygen species generation' Culturing dermal papilla cells in low oxygen boosted their growth and hair-inducing ability in mice, a potential improvement for cell-based hair therapy.
- Self‐organizing hair peg‐like structures from dissociated skin progenitor cells: New insights for human hair follicle organoid engineering and Turing patterning in an asymmetric morphogenetic field A lab system grew hair peg-like structures from human skin progenitor cells, advancing efforts to engineer human hair follicle organoids.
- Platelet rich plasma in androgenetic alopecia: A systematic review A systematic review concludes evidence is insufficient to support PRP for androgenetic alopecia, citing lack of well-designed trials.
- Self-Assessments of Standardized Scalp Massages for Androgenic Alopecia: Survey Results In a survey of 327 self-assessed AGA sufferers, 69% reported hair loss stabilization or regrowth after months of standardized scalp massage; controlled research is needed.
- Anagen hair follicle repair: Timely regenerative attempts from plastic extra‐bulge epithelial cells A review describes how damaged growing follicles self-repair via plastic extra-bulge cells, a mechanism that could ameliorate chemo- and radiotherapy hair loss.
- Assessment of a Bidirectional Association Between Major Depressive Disorder and Alopecia Areata In a large UK cohort, depression nearly doubled later alopecia areata risk (antidepressants lowered it) and AA raised depression risk 34%.
- Association between male pattern baldness and testicular germ cell tumor: a meta-analysis A meta-analysis finds men with any pattern of baldness have about 40% lower odds of testicular germ cell tumors.
- Characteristic findings by phototrichogram in southern Chinese women with Female pattern hair loss In southern Chinese women, female pattern hair loss reduces density, diameter and terminal/vellus ratio even at occipital and temporal sites.
- Off-Label Use of Topical Minoxidil in Alopecia: A Review A review finds mixed evidence for off-label topical minoxidil; support exists for eyebrow hypotrichosis and chemo-induced alopecia, not AA or scarring.
- Clinical profile of androgenic alopecia and its association with cardiovascular risk factors Men with early-onset AGA had more abdominal obesity, hypertension and low HDL than controls; metabolic syndrome screening may be warranted.
- The association of metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance in early-onset androgenetic alopecia in males: A case–control study In a 100-man case-control study, early-onset pattern hair loss was associated with metabolic syndrome but not insulin resistance.
- Correlation of trichoscopic findings in androgenetic alopecia and the disease severity Trichoscopic signs such as brown peripilar sign (early) and white peripilar sign (late) correlated with AGA severity.
- Quality of life assessment in patients with androgenetic alopecia In 200 men with AGA, quality-of-life scores showed substantial impairment, especially personal relationships and symptoms.
- Utility of trichoscopy to diagnose early female pattern hair loss in resource-poor setting: A cross-sectional study A simple USB dermoscope detected microscopic hair changes diagnosing early female pattern hair loss in 230 women.
- Monotherapy for Alopecia Areata: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis Network meta-analysis: intralesional corticosteroids ranked best for mild AA; diphenylcyclopropenone for moderate-to-severe disease.
- A study of correlation of angiographic evaluation of coronary artery disease with androgenetic alopecia – TricoHeart study In 219 women, higher-grade female pattern hair loss was associated with more severe coronary artery disease on angiography.
- Clinical experiences on alopecia areata treatment with tofacitinib: A study of 63 patients clinical experience with tofacitinib for alopecia areata in 63 patients.
- The Effectiveness of Oral Mini-Pulse Methylprednisolonein - the Treatment of Alopecia Areata in Vietnam In Vietnam, weekly oral mini-pulse methylprednisolone gave good recovery in 82% of alopecia areata patients by 6 months with no adverse events detected.
- The Use of Janus Kinase Inhibitors in Alopecia Areata: A Review of the Literature A review finds JAK inhibitors (tofacitinib, ruxolitinib, baricitinib) show promise for alopecia areata; formal trials are ongoing.
- Current and emerging treatment strategies for hair loss in women of color A review outlines recognition and medical, procedural and surgical treatments for scarring and nonscarring hair loss in women of color.
- Frontal fibrosing alopecia: An update on the hypothesis of pathogenesis and treatment A review outlines signalling pathways in frontal fibrosing alopecia and lists possible treatments needing clinical trial confirmation.
- Frontal Fibrosing Alopecia: An Update on Pathogenesis, Diagnosis, and Treatment A review summarises pathogenesis hypotheses and off-label treatments for frontal fibrosing alopecia, which has no validated therapy.
- Study of Human Leukocyte Antigen ( HLA ) in 13 cases of familial frontal fibrosing alopecia: CYP 21A2 gene p.V281L mutation from congenital adrenal hyperplasia linked to HLA class I haplotype HLA ‐ A*33:01 ; B*14:02; C*08:02 as a genetic marker In 13 familial frontal fibrosing alopecia patients, a CYP21A2 mutation linked to a specific HLA haplotype marks susceptibility.
- Ischemic modified albumin as a new biomarker in predicting of oxidative stress in alopecia areata In alopecia areata patients, serum ischemia-modified albumin is elevated and independently predicts oxidative stress.
- Dickkopf-1 Expression in Androgenetic Alopecia and Alopecia Areata in Male Patients In scalp biopsies, DKK-1 expression is significantly increased in both androgenetic alopecia and alopecia areata, suggesting a possible treatment target.
- OCT4 maintains self-renewal and reverses senescence in human hair follicle mesenchymal stem cells through the downregulation of p21 by DNA methyltransferases A lab study showed OCT4 maintains self-renewal and reverses senescence in human hair follicle stem cells by suppressing p21 via DNA methyltransferases.
- Adipose Infiltration of the Dermis, Involving the Arrector Pili Muscle, and Dermal Displacement of Eccrine Sweat Coils: New Histologic Observations in Frontal Fibrosing Alopecia In FFA biopsies, dermal fat infiltration involving the arrector pili muscle was far more common than in androgenetic alopecia controls.
- Tofacitinib therapy for children with severe alopecia areata tofacitinib therapy was given to children with severe alopecia areata.
- New pattern hair loss in young Turkish women; What's wrong in their daily life? A study links thermal hair-straightening device use to hair shaft damage, scalp burns, and CCCA-like scarring hair loss patterns.
- JAK inhibitors and alopecia areata a piece discussing JAK inhibitors for alopecia areata.
- Evaluation of association of vitamin D in alopecia areata: A case–control study of 100 patients in a tertiary rural hospital of Southern India In 100 alopecia areata patients, vitamin D levels were lower than controls and inversely correlated with disease severity and duration.
- Laser-assisted drug delivery for the treatment of androgenetic alopecia: ablative laser fractional photothermolysis to enhance cutaneous topical delivery of platelet-rich plasma — with or without concurrent bimatoprost and/or minoxidil A commentary proposes laser-assisted delivery of platelet-rich plasma, with or without bimatoprost or minoxidil, for androgenetic alopecia.
- Multifunctional Zn doped hollow mesoporous silica/polycaprolactone electrospun membranes with enhanced hair follicle regeneration and antibacterial activity for wound healing A lab-made zinc-doped silica/polycaprolactone wound dressing promoted hair follicle regeneration and antibacterial activity in wound healing models.
- Serum Vitamin D levels and Alopecia areata- A hospital based case-control study from North-India AA patients had lower vitamin D than controls, with levels inversely correlating with disease severity.
- Can we predict prostate size by scoring baldness? The relationship of androgenic alopecia and lower urinary tract symptoms. A study of 177 men found no correlation between androgenetic alopecia severity and prostate size or urinary symptoms.
- Photographic assessment improves adherence to recommended follow-up in patients with androgenetic alopecia and alopecia areata: A retrospective cohort study A retrospective study found photographic assessment improves adherence to recommended follow-up in patients with androgenetic alopecia and alopecia areata.
- Exosomal Micro RNAs Derived from Dermal Papilla Cells Mediate Hair Follicle Stem Cell Proliferation and Differentiation A lab study identified miR-22-5p from dermal papilla exosomes as a regulator of hair follicle stem cell proliferation via the LEF1 gene.
- Comparative study of efficacy of topical mometasone with calcipotriol versus mometasone alone in the treatment of alopecia areata In 100 alopecia areata patients, adding topical calcipotriol to mometasone lowered SALT scores more than mometasone alone over 24 weeks.
- The Immunological Association between Alopecia Areata and Respiratory Diseases: A Systematic Review A systematic review finds alopecia areata is associated with allergic rhinitis more than asthma, suggesting a possible Th2 immune component.
- Frequency of the Types of Alopecia at Twenty-Two Specialist Hair Clinics: A Multicenter Study A multicenter study of 2,835 hair-clinic patients found androgenetic alopecia most common (37.7%), followed by alopecia areata and telogen effluvium.
- Vitamin D and alopecia areata: possible roles in pathogenesis and potential implications for therapy. A review discusses how vitamin D may contribute to alopecia areata and notes promising results for topical calcipotriol.
- Beneficial effects of pumpkin seed oil as a topical hair growth promoting agent in a mice model. In mice, topical 10% pumpkin seed oil reversed testosterone-induced hair loss, nearly matching minoxidil 2% after three weeks.
- Social Status May Interfere in the Prognosis of Frontal Fibrosing Alopecia in Female Patients: An Observational Study An observational study of 100 women found frontal fibrosing alopecia was more severe in less-educated patients, likely due to later diagnosis.
- MiR-92a-1-5p and miR-328-3p Are Up-Regulated in Skin of Female Pattern Hair Loss Patients miR-92a-1-5p and miR-328-3p are up-regulated in the skin of female pattern hair loss patients.
- Trichotillomania (hair pulling disorder)