TLDR FK506 may stimulate hair growth when applied to the skin.
The study investigated the hair growth-stimulating effects of Cyclosporin A (CsA) and FK506, both potent immunosuppressants. CsA was known to cause excessive hair growth (hypertrichosis) in various conditions, including alopecia areata and male-pattern alopecia, through both topical and oral administration. FK506, while not causing hypertrichosis orally, significantly stimulated hair growth when applied topically on animals, indicating a mechanism separate from its immunosuppressive effects. FK506 was found to directly stimulate hair follicles in vitro, suggesting its potential as a hair growth stimulant, though its effectiveness in humans was not yet clear.
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