Highlights from the Field of Pediatric Dermatology Research from the 2023 PeDRA Annual Conference

Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) impacts various skin conditions, including Androgenetic alopecia and seborrheic dermatitis, by causing overactivity in sebaceous glands. Topical medications Tacrolimus and Clobetasol can reduce these inflammatory conditions, and treatments like RU58841, Minoxidil, and Finasteride may also be beneficial.

A 19-year-old female with Diffuse Alopecia was advised by a dermatologist to use vitamin supplements, a hair serum, and antifungal drops, leading to some improvement. Other users suggested treatments like minoxidil, microneedling, and consulting a different dermatologist for further advice.

The user is experiencing diffuse thinning and inflammation despite using 2.5mg dutasteride daily, ciclopirox, and ketoconazole shampoos. They are considering treatments like hydroxychloroquine and JAK inhibitors due to suspected scarring alopecia and have faced challenges in obtaining a scalp biopsy.

The user has been using oral finasteride for 15 months and oral minoxidil for 6 months, and developed alopecia areata, for which a dermatologist prescribed calcipotriol/betamethasone. The treatment is helping, but the user is experiencing another shedding phase and is concerned about the effects of the steroid cream and the cause of hair loss.

A 27-year-old male with AGA and diffused thinning has been using oral Minoxidil, Finasteride, Vitamin D, B12, Iron, and Ketoconazole shampoo. Despite a hair transplant and improved blood levels, he continues to experience hair loss and suspects a possible misdiagnosis of Alopecia Areata Incognita.

DHT may inhibit hair growth by affecting mitochondrial function, leading to hair follicle miniaturization. Treatments like minoxidil and PP405 may promote hair growth by altering metabolic pathways, potentially counteracting DHT's effects.