Enzymology of the Hair Follicle
August 2001
in “
PubMed
”
Studysummary This review discusses the role of androgen metabolism in hair follicles and its potential impact on future treatments for androgenetic alopecia, but reports no clinical results. Our plain-language summary of this paper — not a Tressless recommendation.
The review discussed androgenetic alopecia (AGA), the most common type of hair loss in men and women, which follows a specific pattern in genetically predisposed individuals. Although the exact genes involved were unknown, the hormonal effects on hair growth were better understood. Human hair follicles were identified as targets for androgens and exhibited active androgen metabolism, capable of converting several androgens through various steroidogenic enzymes. The dermal papilla of the hair follicle showed significant activity of type 2 5a-reductase, 3b-HSD, and steroid sulfatase. The review highlighted the importance of understanding androgen metabolism in hair follicles for developing future therapeutic approaches.
