The Microbiome in Hair Disorders
January 2019
TLDR Changes in skin bacteria can affect hair loss and new treatments targeting these bacteria may prevent balding without sexual side effects.
The document from 2019 explores the connection between the skin microbiome and hair disorders, noting that microbial communities are influenced by physiological factors and remain generally stable over time. It details how alterations in the microbiome contribute to conditions like acne and hidradenitis suppurativa, and suggests that the microbiome could be utilized in treating hair disorders such as alopecia universalis and androgenetic alopecia. The document also proposes a novel treatment for pattern baldness by genetically engineering P. acnes to degrade testosterone, thereby reducing dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and potentially preventing hair loss without the sexual side effects associated with current treatments like finasteride.
