Considerations on Hair Research and Hair Growth
January 1981
in “
Springer eBooks
”
hair growth cycle anagen phase catagen phase telogen phase hair plucking dermis epidermis androgens testosterone dihydrotestosterone baldness scalp follicles vellus follicles androgen metabolism hair transplantation hair follicle involution hair growth hair cycle hair loss balding hair thinning scalp health
TLDR The document concludes that hair biology is complex and there are still unanswered questions about hair loss and follicle changes.
The 1981 document reviews the advancements in hair research, particularly the hair growth cycle, the interaction between skin layers in hair follicle development, and the influence of androgens on baldness. It explains the anagen, catagen, and telogen phases of the hair cycle and the use of hair plucking to study these stages. The paper draws parallels between feather and hair growth, emphasizing the interplay between the dermis and epidermis. It credits J.B. Hamilton's 1942 work on androgens, like testosterone and dihydrotestosterone, in baldness, but notes the limited endocrinological research in this area. The document also discusses the progressive miniaturization of scalp follicles during balding, leading to hair resembling vellus follicles, and refutes theories that blame poor scalp conditions, instead focusing on androgen metabolism in different scalp regions. The importance of controlled studies and the use of nonhuman primates in research is mentioned, as well as the role of hair transplantation in debunking baldness theories. The paper concludes by acknowledging the complexity of hair biology and the remaining questions about hair follicle involution and baldness, with research supported by the National Institutes of Health grant RR 00163.
