Estrogen Induces VEGF Expression in Dermal Papilla Cells
December 2012
in “
Journal of Dermatological Science
”
TLDR Estrogen increases a growth factor in hair cells which might affect hair loss.
The study from 2013 explored the impact of estrogen on hair loss by examining how estradiol, a form of estrogen, affects the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in dermal papilla cells (DPCs), which are crucial for hair follicle development and growth. It was found that 1 nM estradiol increased VEGF expression in human DPCs, but higher doses did not have a significant effect. This implies that reduced estrogen levels with aging might lead to lower VEGF expression in DPCs, potentially contributing to female pattern hair loss (FPHL). The study also discovered that certain herbal extracts could stimulate VEGF expression, suggesting possible treatments for FPHL. However, the document does not mention the sample size, limiting the ability to gauge the study's robustness.