Wanted, Dead and Alive: Why a Multidisciplinary Approach Is Needed to Unlock Hair Treatment Potential

February 2019 in “ Experimental Dermatology ”

Yi Shan Lim, Duane P. Harland, Thomas L. Dawson

androgenetic alopecia senescent alopecia chronogenetic alopecia androgens dihydrotestosterone DHT hair follicle growth cycle disulphide bonds hair curvature hair stability hair texture AGA SA CA

TLDR Different fields of expertise must work together to better understand hair growth and create effective hair loss treatments.

The document from May 2019 emphasized the need for a multidisciplinary approach to understand hair growth and develop effective hair loss treatments. It detailed the complex process of hair growth, which depends on the regulation of the follicle growth cycle and the ability to synthesize 1-2 meters of hair shaft per hour. The paper discussed the biology of hair loss, specifically androgenetic alopecia (AGA) and senescent or chronogenetic alopecia (SA/CA), and the role of androgens, particularly dihydrotestosterone (DHT), in AGA. It also highlighted the importance of structural measures such as torsion and bending stiffness, and the role of disulphide bonds in determining hair curvature, stability, and texture. The document concluded by emphasizing the need to merge biological, chemical, and physical expertise to fully understand hair generation and design effective treatments for hair disorders.

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