Androgenetic Alopecia: New Insights Into the Pathogenesis and Mechanism of Hair Loss

August 2015 in “ F1000Research ”

Rodney Sinclair, Niloufar Torkamani, Leslie Jones

androgenetic alopecia arrector pili muscle hair follicle follicle cycling dermal papilla dermal sheath diffuse hair loss patterned baldness AGA APM

Studysummary This study presents a new model for androgenetic alopecia progression, explaining diffuse hair loss in women through 3D reconstructions of the arrector pili muscle and its relationship with the hair follicle stem cell niche. Our plain-language summary of this paper — not a Tressless recommendation.

This scientific paper from 7 years ago discusses androgenetic alopecia (AGA), a type of hair loss that affects both men and women. The paper proposes a new model for AGA, in which the arrector pili muscle (APM) plays a significant role in maintaining hair follicle integrity. The paper also discusses the role of follicle cycling and the movement of cells between the dermal papilla and dermal sheath in AGA. The paper concludes that computer generated 3D reconstructions of the arrector pili muscle have helped explain why women with AGA experience diffuse hair loss rather than the patterned baldness seen in men.

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12 / 12 results

research Hair Shedding in Women: How Much Is Too Much?

32 citations , April 2015 in “British Journal of Dermatology”

This article discusses hair shedding in women and does not offer new research results; it highlights the need for objective criteria to define excessive hair shedding.

research Destruction of the Arrector Pili Muscle and Fat Infiltration in Androgenic Alopecia

35 citations , March 2014 in “British Journal of Dermatology”

This study found that in androgenic alopecia, the arrector pili muscle degenerates and is replaced by fat, unlike in normal skin or telogen effluvium.

research Beyond Goosebumps: Does the Arrector Pili Muscle Have a Role in Hair Loss?

31 citations , January 2014 in “International Journal of Trichology”

This review summarizes the anatomy and physiology of the arrector pili muscle and discusses its potential role in hair loss disorders, reporting no new clinical results.

Miniaturized Hairs Maintain Contact With the Arrector Pili Muscle in Alopecia Areata but Not in Androgenetic Alopecia: A Model for Reversible Miniaturization and Potential for Hair Regrowth

research Miniaturized Hairs Maintain Contact With the Arrector Pili Muscle in Alopecia Areata but Not in Androgenetic Alopecia: A Model for Reversible Miniaturization and Potential for Hair Regrowth

22 citations , July 2012 in “International Journal of Trichology”

This study found that loss of contact between the arrector pili muscle and the hair follicle bulge may explain why hair loss in male and female pattern baldness is largely irreversible, unlike in alopecia areata.

Single Follicular Unit Transplantation Reconstructs Arrector Pili Muscle and Nerve Connections and Restores Functional Hair Follicle Piloerection

research Single Follicular Unit Transplantation Reconstructs Arrector Pili Muscle and Nerve Connections and Restores Functional Hair Follicle Piloerection

13 citations , March 2012 in “The Journal of Dermatology”

This study reports that transplanted mouse hair follicles restored piloerection ability and connected properly with host tissues, suggesting potential for advanced hair restoration therapies.

The Ludwig Pattern of Androgenetic Alopecia Is Due to a Hierarchy of Androgen Sensitivity Within Follicular Units That Leads to Selective Miniaturization and a Reduction in the Number of Terminal Hairs Per Follicular Unit

research The Ludwig Pattern of Androgenetic Alopecia Is Due to a Hierarchy of Androgen Sensitivity Within Follicular Units That Leads to Selective Miniaturization and a Reduction in the Number of Terminal Hairs Per Follicular Unit

47 citations , September 2008 in “British Journal of Dermatology”

This study found that women with androgenetic alopecia experience diffuse hair loss due to a decrease in terminal hairs and an increase in vellus hairs per follicular unit.

research Follicular Miniaturization in Female Pattern Hair Loss: Clinicopathological Correlations

100 citations , June 2006 in “British Journal of Dermatology”

This study found that as hair loss severity increased in women with female pattern hair loss, the number of vellus follicles also rose, indicating miniaturization of terminal hair follicles.

research Prevalence of Male and Female Pattern Hair Loss in Maryborough

193 citations , August 2005 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology Symposium Proceedings”

This study found that the prevalence of androgenetic alopecia increases with age among both men and women in Maryborough, Australia, with 57% of women and 73.5% of men aged 80 and over affected.

research The Reliability of Horizontally Sectioned Scalp Biopsies in the Diagnosis of Chronic Diffuse Telogen Hair Loss in Women

137 citations , July 2004 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology”

This study observed that triple horizontal scalp biopsies provided a more accurate diagnosis of female pattern hair loss in women than a single horizontal biopsy, especially for those with advanced hair loss.

Androgenetic Alopecia: Pathogenesis and Potential for Therapy