Androgens and hair growth
September 2008
in “Dermatologic Therapy”
TLDR Androgens can both increase and decrease hair growth in different parts of the body.
The document from 2008 explores the complex role of androgens, such as testosterone and dihydrotestosterone (DHT), in regulating human hair growth, with a focus on the function of dermal papilla cells in hair follicles. Androgens are shown to have paradoxical effects, stimulating hair growth in certain body areas while inhibiting it on the scalp, potentially leading to androgenetic alopecia. The paper discusses how androgens influence hair follicles by altering mesenchyme-epithelial cell interactions, dermal papilla size, and the activity of various cell types, including keratinocytes and melanocytes. It also notes the importance of androgen receptors, particularly in dermal papilla cells from androgen-dependent areas, and how these cells produce growth factors in response to androgens. The document suggests that a better understanding of these mechanisms could improve treatments for hair disorders and highlights the psychological impact of hair disorders due to the social significance of hair.
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