Frontal Fibrosing Alopecia: An Example of Disrupted Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor-Mediated Immunological Homeostasis in the Skin?

    July 2020 in “ Clinical, cosmetic and investigational dermatology ”
    Rowland Noakes
    TLDR Excessive sun protection might cause frontal fibrosing alopecia by disrupting skin immune balance.
    The review hypothesized that frontal fibrosing alopecia (FFA) might result from excessive facial photoprotection, disrupting immunological homeostasis mediated by the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR)-kynurenine pathway (KP) axis, leading to immune privilege collapse at the hair follicle's bulge area. It suggested that a certain level of sun exposure is necessary to maintain skin immunological balance, and the rising incidence of FFA might be linked to environmental factors, including the use of sunscreens and facial care products. The study highlighted the complex interplay between AHR activity, immune regulation, and hair follicle health, proposing that disruptions in these pathways could lead to the immune-mediated destruction of hair follicles seen in FFA.
    Discuss this study in the Community →

    Research cited in this study

    7 / 7 results

    Related Community Posts Join

    6 / 378 results

      community Fibrosing alopecia in a pattern distribution

      in Research/Science  14 upvotes 8 months ago
      A user has been experiencing hair loss for 4 years, with treatments like minoxidil, finasteride, and various supplements proving ineffective. They were diagnosed with fibrosing alopecia in a pattern distribution, a condition that may require a combination of anti-inflammatory and hair growth treatments.
      Diffuse hair loss and scalp biopsies

      community Diffuse hair loss and scalp biopsies

      in Research  692 upvotes 3 months ago
      Scalp biopsies are crucial for diagnosing hair loss conditions like Diffuse Unpatterned Alopecia (DUPA) and retrograde hair loss, as treatments like finasteride and dutasteride may not be effective if other conditions are present. Combining PPAR-GAMMA agonists with retinoids could improve treatments for conditions like Lichen Planopilaris.

      community Where to Begin with Microneedling?

      in Treatment  17 upvotes 1 year ago
      User is considering microneedling to enhance hair regrowth after limited response to minoxidil and better results with finasteride and ketoconazole shampoo. Recommendations include using a 1.5mm derma roller once a week, avoiding minoxidil on microneedling days, and disinfecting the roller with isopropyl alcohol.

      community How essential is scalp biopsy when dealing with hair loss?

      in Treatment  6 upvotes 1 month ago
      The user experienced hair loss despite using Fin and Min for 12 years and switched to Dutasteride, RU58841, and Keto scalp serum, but shedding and itch persist. They are considering increasing Dutasteride to 2.5mg and questioning the necessity of a scalp biopsy, with mixed opinions on its usefulness.

      community We Need A Solution For The Inflammatory Response related To AGA

      in Research/Science  16 upvotes 2 months ago
      The conversation is about finding a solution for scalp inflammation related to AGA, with the user expressing frustration that Minoxidil and Finasteride do not address inflammation. The user has researched glucocorticoids and topical NSAIDs for reducing inflammation and seeks advice from specialists.

      community Finasteride not working isnt it MPB?

      in Finasteride/Dutasteride  5 upvotes 6 months ago
      A user is concerned that finasteride isn't working for their hair loss, questioning if it's due to male pattern baldness or low iron levels. They are advised to take finasteride daily and get blood work done.

    Related Research

    1 / 1 results