April 202338
High-density hair transplantation was found to cause transient linear effluvium, reversing fully within three months. The HTK-AD graft-holding solution cut shedding and sped regrowth versus Ringer solution. Topical minoxidil compliance was poor, with side effects tripling quitting odds. A review proposed combining and rotating treatments to boost efficacy and limit side effects. Fermented papaya and mangosteen shampoo reduced hair loss and increased density versus placebo. German online finasteride platforms saw traffic surge, signaling a telemedicine shift. In pigs, human dermal papilla cells increased follicle number. Alopecia areata biomarkers showed IL-6 and CRP elevated, vitamin D decreased. Oral JAK inhibitors were most effective with fewer adverse events than steroids.
- [Translated article] Immediate-Onset Linear Effluvium Associated With High-Density Hair Transplantation: A Series of 28 Case In 28 patients, dense-pack hair transplantation caused a transient linear effluvium appearing 1-3 days after surgery that fully reversed within 3 months; authors advise warning patients in advance.
- Evaluation of a Novel Graft-Holding Solution in Hair Transplantation: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Study In a 240-patient randomized trial, the HTK-AD graft-holding solution cut post-transplant shedding (73.8% vs 95%) and sped regrowth versus Ringer solution, with no difference in final graft survival.
- Compliance to Topical Minoxidil and Reasons for Discontinuation among Patients with Androgenetic Alopecia In 400 patients, 86% quit topical minoxidil; side effects tripled quitting odds, while perceived improvement and use beyond 12 months predicted staying on it.
- Combination and rotational therapy in androgenetic alopecia A review proposes combining and rotating pattern-hair-loss treatments to boost efficacy, limit side effects and improve long-term adherence.
- Hair growth promoting effects of human dermal papilla cells in pig A single injection of human dermal papilla cells increased hair follicle number for over 3 months in pig skin, acting through paracrine effects.
- Biomarkers in alopecia Areata: A systematic review and meta-analysis. A meta-analysis found serum IL-6 and CRP significantly elevated and vitamin D significantly decreased in alopecia areata patients versus controls.
- Biomolecules of Fermented Tropical Fruits and Fermenting Microbes as Regulators of Human Hair Loss, Hair Quality, and Scalp Microbiota In a 154-person trial, shampoo and lotion with fermented papaya and mangosteen reduced hair loss and increased density versus placebo and caffeine controls.
- Efficacy and safety of different JAK inhibitors in the treatment of alopecia areata: a network meta-analysis A network meta-analysis of 1,689 patients found oral baricitinib and ruxolitinib most effective for alopecia areata, with fewer adverse events than steroids; non-oral JAK inhibitors showed unsatisfactory efficacy.
- Baricitinib for alopecia areata A review notes baricitinib, the first FDA-approved systemic alopecia areata drug, achieved 80% scalp coverage in ~36-39% on 4 mg versus ~3-6% on placebo.
- Efficacy and safety of ritlecitinib in adults and adolescents with alopecia areata: a randomised, double-blind, multicentre, phase 2b–3 trial In a phase 2b-3 trial, ritlecitinib gave SALT 20 responses at week 24 in 23% (50 mg) and 31% (200+50 mg) of alopecia areata patients versus 2% on placebo; adverse events were common (76-85%).
- Baricitinib as the first systemic treatment for severe alopecia areata A review of baricitinib, the first approved systemic treatment for severe alopecia areata, found good efficacy and safety, though individual risk factors for serious adverse events should be assessed.
- Stem Cell Applications in Human Hair Growth: A Literature Review A literature review describes stem cell approaches—scalp injection, growth factor stimulation, reactivating dormant follicles—as potential future treatments for pattern hair loss.
- A split scalp study to evaluate the effects of platelet rich plasma prepared by two different methods in androgenetic alopecia A split-scalp study compares two platelet-rich plasma preparation methods in pattern hair loss.
- Innovative Strategies for Hair Regrowth and Skin Visualization A review surveys transdermal strategies for hair regrowth, including external stimulation, microneedles, natural products, and skin visualization methods.
- Adverse events in patients treated with Jak‐inhibitors for alopecia areata: A systematic review A systematic review of 1,719 alopecia areata patients on JAK inhibitors found most adverse events mild, with very low withdrawal rates, though rare grade 3–4 events occurred and long-term postmarketing data are lacking.
- Online Traffic Analysis of Direct-to-Consumer Websites for Hair Loss Treatment and Characterization of Finasteride Patients on a Platform in Germany: A Potential Paradigm Shift in the Treatment of Androgenetic Alopecia German online prescription platforms for finasteride saw traffic surge up to 846%, driven by convenience, signaling a shift to telemedicine hair-loss care.
- Heat-killed Lacticaseibacillus paracasei GMNL-653 ameliorates human scalp health by regulating scalp microbiome A 22-person trial of shampoo containing heat-killed Lacticaseibacillus paracasei GMNL-653 for 5 months reported less dandruff and oil, more hair growth, and shifted scalp microbiota.
- Tacrolimus in Solution as an Option to Inflammatory Conditions of the Scalp In 22 patients with inflammatory scarring scalp conditions, tacrolimus 0.1% solution produced good-to-excellent response in most, sustained at 6 months.
- Allergen desensitization reduces the severity of relapsed alopecia areata in dust‐mite allergic patients In an observational study, dust-mite desensitization added to standard treatment reduced alopecia areata relapse severity over three years in allergic patients.
- Anti-Alopecia Activity of Coumarin Derivatives Isolated from Merremia peltata Leaves and Computational Study of Their Binding to Androgen Receptors Using Molecular Docking and Molecular Dynamic Simulation In rabbits, coumarin compounds scopolin and scopoletin from Merremia peltata leaves promoted hair growth comparably to minoxidil, with docking suggesting androgen-receptor binding.
- Alopecia and COVID-19: possible etiopathogenetic variants and therapeutic approach A review details post-COVID hair loss patterns, with telogen effluvium in 19.8% and androgenetic alopecia the most common diagnosis at 30.7%.
- Mechanistic synergy of hair growth promotion by the Avicennia marina extract and its active constituent (avicequinone C) in dermal papilla cells isolated from androgenic alopecia patients Avicennia marina extract and avicequinone C inhibited 5α-reductase and androgen signaling in dermal papilla cells from pattern-hair-loss patients.
- Boosting hair growth through follicular delivery of Melatonin through lecithin-enhanced Pickering emulsion stabilized by chitosan-dextran nanoparticles in testosterone induced androgenic alopecia rat model A melatonin-loaded Pickering emulsion regrew hair in testosterone-induced balding rats, outperforming minoxidil on anagen ratio.
- Novel potential therapeutic targets of alopecia areata A review surveys emerging immune pathways and therapeutic targets in alopecia areata.
- Frontal fibrosing alopecia and comorbidities in a Moroccan population In 38 Moroccan women with frontal fibrosing alopecia, lichen planus pigmentosus (36.8%) and rosacea (28.9%) were the most common comorbidities.
- Medications affecting the insulin-like growth factor 1/growth hormone axis, including teprotumumab, somatostatin analogs, and anti-calcitonin gene-related peptide monoclonal antibodies, are associated with elevated reporting odds of alopecia in women: A pharmacovigilance study A pharmacovigilance study links IGF-1/growth-hormone-axis drugs such as teprotumumab to elevated alopecia reporting in women.
- Central Centrifugal Cicatricial Alopecia in the Adolescent Population: An Overview of Available Literature A review finds central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia occurs in adolescents with varied presentation and recommends a low biopsy threshold for diagnosis.
- Treatment of moderate-to-severe alopecia areata in pre-adolescent children with baricitinib A retrospective cohort study tracked off-label baricitinib use in children under 12 with alopecia areata, collecting response and adverse event data.
- Innovative Approaches and Advances for Hair Follicle Regeneration A review covers 3D scaffolds and biomaterials for growing hair follicle organoids for future transplantation.
- Enhanced Skin Permeation and Controlled Release of β-Sitosterol Using Cubosomes Encrusted with Dissolving Microneedles for the Management of Alopecia Cubosomes combined with dissolving microneedles improved beta-sitosterol skin penetration and produced significant hair growth in animals.
- Design and Characterization of Baricitinib Incorporated PLA 3D Printed Pills by Fused Deposition Modeling: An Oral Pill for Treating Alopecia Areata Researchers fabricated 3D-printed baricitinib pills with sustained drug release (44–59% over 24 hours), proposed as low-cost personalized dosing for alopecia areata.
- Commonly used hair oils in the Black community: a narrative review in their use to treat androgenetic alopecia A narrative review examines evidence for castor, pumpkin, lavender, peppermint, rosemary and tea tree oils in pattern hair loss.
- Switching between tofacitinib and baricitinib in alopecia areata: A review of clinical response A review of clinical response when switching between tofacitinib and baricitinib in alopecia areata.
- HR Gene Variants Identified in Mexican Patients with Alopecia Areata In Mexican alopecia areata patients, three HR gene variants were found, one predicted damaging and possibly a risk factor.
- Treatment of persistent chemotherapy-induced hair loss (Alopecia) with human mesenchymal stromal cells exosome enriched extracellular vesicles: A case report A woman with 18 months of persistent chemotherapy-induced hair loss achieved complete terminal hair regrowth after three monthly scalp injections of mesenchymal stem cell exosomes.
- Experience on biocompatible artificial hair implant. In 682 patients, biocompatible artificial hair implants (average 2,100 fibers over 5 sessions) restored scalp appearance with 3-day recovery.
- Treatment of Frontal Fibrosing Alopecia in Black Patients: A Systematic Review A systematic review examines treatment outcomes for frontal fibrosing alopecia in Black patients, a group underrepresented in FFA research.
- The Efficacy and Safety of Dr. SKS Hair Booster Serum (a Cocktail of Micronutrients and Multivitamins) in Adult Males and Females With Androgenetic Alopecia: An Open-Label, Non-randomized, Prospective Study