Melanin Light Absorption as the Necessary but Not Sufficient Condition for Photoepilation: Miniaturization and Eclipse Phenomena

The study "Melanin Light Absorption as the Necessary but Not Sufficient Condition for Photoepilation: Miniaturization and Eclipse Phenomena" from 2013 investigated the light sensitivity of hair follicles in relation to their mesenchymal remodeling, which occurs at the distal end of the growing hair follicle. The research found that interrupting these remodeling processes could lead to the formation of micro-scars beneath the hair follicles, a characteristic of androgenic alopecia. This could explain phenomena such as the miniaturization of hair follicles and eclipse observed in photoepilation. The study also noted that these remodeling processes do not occur throughout the entire anagen phase of hair follicle development, which would affect the hair follicle's light sensitivity and potentially limit the effectiveness of photoepilation treatments.