Advances in Understanding Hair Growth

The 2016 review by Bruno A. Bernard provided a comprehensive overview of human hair follicle dynamics, likening it to a "Yin Yang" duality of opposing influences that maintain its homeostasis. It emphasized the significance of glycans in controlling hair growth by affecting growth factors and morphogens. The document detailed the hair follicle life cycle, the role of stem cells in regeneration, and the stochastic nature of hair follicle phases. It concluded that understanding the role of glycans and enzymes that modify them is crucial for regulating hair growth. The review also suggested that future research should focus on the role of glycans and the immune response in hair diseases like alopecia areata and androgenetic alopecia, and anticipated that new technologies in metabolomics and hair growth models will reveal key metabolic pathways for maintaining normal hair growth. The author's affiliation with L'Oréal and the lack of reported grants were noted.