TLDR Minoxidil, a common hair loss treatment, might work by counteracting a hormone that reduces hair growth and promotes hair loss.
In 1999, Kurbel et al. proposed a theory about the role of minoxidil, a common treatment for male-pattern alopecia. They suggested that minoxidil might counteract a vasoconstrictive mediator of hair loss, possibly Endothelin-1 (ET-1), which could be secreted by the sebaceous gland, a part of the hair follicle influenced by sex hormones. They theorized that testosterone could increase ET-1 secretion in men during puberty, potentially affecting nearby blood vessels, reducing hair growth, and promoting hair loss. The study concluded that if ET-1 does play this role, then an ET-1 antagonist, such as bosentane, might also promote hair growth. However, this was a theoretical study and did not involve any human or animal subjects.
81 citations,
February 1997 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology” Minoxidil boosts hair growth by activating PGHS-1.
23 citations,
July 1996 in “Archives of Dermatological Research” bFGF, VEGF, and minoxidil decrease collagen production in hair cells, possibly affecting hair growth.
15 citations,
January 1995 in “Archives of Dermatological Research” Minoxidil boosts elastin production, potentially helping skin diseases.
33 citations,
November 1994 in “Archives of Biochemistry and Biophysics”
7 citations,
June 2021 in “Trends in Food Science and Technology” Western diet may cause male pattern baldness; low glycemic diet with magnesium could help.
3 citations,
December 2022 in “Cells” Cannabinoids like CBD and THC may help treat non-cancer skin diseases, but more research is needed.
38 citations,
September 2017 in “Oncologist” Scalp cooling can help prevent chemotherapy-induced hair loss with a 50-90% success rate and is safe for patients.
2 citations,
January 2012 in “InTech eBooks” Chemotherapy often causes hair loss, which usually grows back within 3 to 6 months, but there's no effective treatment to prevent it.
1 citations,
May 2017 in “InTech eBooks” Some cosmetic procedures show promise for treating hair loss, but more research is needed to confirm their safety and effectiveness.
