Hair Regrowth in Male and Female Pattern Hair Loss Does Not Involve the Conversion of Vellus Hair to Terminal Hair

January 2016 in “ Experimental Dermatology ”

D. Hugh Rushton, Michael Norris, D. Van Neste

male pattern hair loss female pattern hair loss vellus hair terminal hair hair density hair follicles MPHL FPHL

TLDR Hair regrowth doesn't convert thin hairs to thick hairs, but increases overall hair density.

A study from 2016 found that hair regrowth in male and female pattern hair loss does not involve the conversion of vellus hair to terminal hair. The study analyzed previously published data on the effects of various treatments on hair density and vellus hair count. The results showed that hair regrowth did not involve the conversion of vellus hair to terminal hair, but rather an increase in total hair density and a decrease in the percentage of vellus hairs. The study proposes that there is a population of growth-restricted non-vellus hair follicles that are reactivated by effective medical treatments, which explains the increased hair growth observed in MPHL and FPHL.

View this study on onlinelibrary.wiley.com →

Discuss this study in the Community →

Research cited in this study

7 / 7 results

Similar Response Patterns to Topical Minoxidil Foam 5% in Frontal and Vertex Scalp of Men with Androgenetic Alopecia: A Microarray Analysis

research Similar Response Patterns to Topical Minoxidil Foam 5% in Frontal and Vertex Scalp of Men with Androgenetic Alopecia: A Microarray Analysis

19 citations, September 2014 in “British Journal of Dermatology”

Minoxidil foam 5% effectively treats hair loss in both frontal and vertex scalp regions.

research Natural Scalp Hair Regression in Preclinical Stages of Male Androgenetic Alopecia and Its Reversal by Finasteride

24 citations, January 2006 in “Skin Pharmacology and Physiology”

Finasteride reverses early hair loss and promotes growth.

research Minoxidil: Mechanisms of Action on Hair Growth

397 citations, February 2004 in “British Journal of Dermatology”

Minoxidil boosts hair growth by opening potassium channels and increasing cell activity.

research Causes of Hair Loss and Developments in Hair Rejuvenation

69 citations, February 2002 in “International Journal of Cosmetic Science”

Some hair loss can be treated, especially in women due to nutrition, but some types remain untreatable.

Measuring Reversal of Hair Miniaturization in Androgenetic Alopecia by Follicular Counts in Horizontal Sections of Serial Scalp Biopsies: Results of Finasteride 1mg Treatment of Men and Postmenopausal Women

research Measuring Reversal of Hair Miniaturization in Androgenetic Alopecia by Follicular Counts in Horizontal Sections of Serial Scalp Biopsies: Results of Finasteride 1mg Treatment of Men and Postmenopausal Women

145 citations, December 1999 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology Symposium Proceedings”

Finasteride 1mg helps reverse hair miniaturization in men and postmenopausal women.

The Importance of Adequate Serum Ferritin Levels During Oral Cyproterone Acetate and Ethinyl Estradiol Treatment of Diffuse Androgen-Dependent Alopecia in Women

research The Importance of Adequate Serum Ferritin Levels During Oral Cyproterone Acetate and Ethinyl Estradiol Treatment of Diffuse Androgen-Dependent Alopecia in Women

83 citations, April 1992 in “Clinical Endocrinology”

Having enough iron improves the effectiveness of a specific hair loss treatment in women.

research The Unit Area Trichogram in the Assessment of Androgen-Dependent Alopecia

90 citations, October 1983 in “British Journal of Dermatology”

The unit area trichogram is a reliable method to assess hair loss and treatment response in people with androgenic alopecia by measuring hair density and thickness.

Related Community Posts Join

6 / 1000+ results

community Diffuse hair loss and scalp biopsies

in Research 692 upvotes 4 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 Please stop looking for a natural way to stop your hairloss

in Chat 247 upvotes 2 years ago

There is no natural way to stop hair loss; pharmaceuticals like minoxidil, finasteride, and RU58841 are the only effective treatments. Some users report success with minoxidil and microneedling, while others discuss the side effects of finasteride.

community I find it crazy how some people like this bloke have 0 DHT sensitivity. He is on grams of anabolic steroids and has a full, thick head of hair. I wish all of on here had this guys hair genes lol

in Satire 443 upvotes 1 year ago

The conversation is about hair loss and the possibility of maintaining a full head of hair while using anabolic steroids. Some users believe that having good hair genes and taking hair loss protocols can help prevent hair loss while on steroids.

community Homemade topical spironolactone

in Research/Science 25 upvotes 2 years ago

The potential effectiveness of homemade topical spironolactone in treating hair loss, with studies suggesting it is more effective than finasteride and even minoxidil when used as monotherapy. The conversation also mentions that other anti-androgens are being developed which may soon hit the market.

community Most Recent Interesting Hairloss Studies: 10% Minox vs 5% Minox / Radio Rrequency Treatment for AA / Topical Ketoconazole / PRP+Minox vs Minox vs PRP / Alopecia as a systemic disease

in Treatment 87 upvotes 4 years ago

Treatments for hair loss, such as topical minoxidil, platelet-rich plasma therapy with or without minoxidil, ketoconazole, non-abative radio frequency, natural products, finasteride and cortexolone 17 alpha propionate. The post evaluates the efficacy and safety of these treatments in various studies.

community 6 week update fellas, 5mg oral minoxidil. Pics are 2nd June – 10th July

in Progress Pictures 2 years ago

, you can find it online with a script This user was discussing their progress with hair loss treatments including 5mg oral Minoxidil and combining 3mg oral Minoxidil with MTF HRT. They also discussed side effects of increased body hair in other parts of the body.

Related Research

7 / 7 results

research Baricitinib Results in Eyebrow and Eyelash Growth in Patients With Alopecia Areata Who Do Not Achieve 20% or Less Scalp Hair Loss

1 citations, September 2022 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology”

Baricitinib helps grow eyebrows and eyelashes in severe alopecia areata patients.

research Sisaipho Alopecia Areata Treated With Tofacitinib and Oral Minoxidil

1 citations, August 2022 in “JAAD case reports”

Tofacitinib and oral minoxidil may help treat Sisaipho alopecia areata.

research A Bald Statement: Current Approaches to Manipulate Miniaturization Focus Only on Promoting Hair Growth

30 citations, May 2018 in “Experimental Dermatology”

The conclusion is that future hair loss treatments should target the root causes of hair thinning, not just promote hair growth.

research Hair Regrowth in Male and Female Pattern Hair Loss Does Not Involve the Conversion of Vellus Hair to Terminal Hair

14 citations, January 2016 in “Experimental Dermatology”

Hair regrowth doesn't convert thin hairs to thick hairs, but increases overall hair density.

research Disorders of Hair

July 2013 in “DeckerMed Medicine”

The document's conclusion cannot be provided because the document is not readable or understandable.

research Management of Unwanted Hair

1 citations, January 2009 in “Elsevier eBooks”

The chapter explains why and how women remove unwanted hair, comparing methods like shaving and waxing.

research Topical Minoxidil for Hair Growth in Alopecia Areata and Androgenetica

24 citations, February 1987 in “Drugs”

Minoxidil promotes hair regrowth, but more research needed for effectiveness and response factors.