Plaque Psoriasis Formation and Body Hair Regrowth: A Common Pathway Activation?

The document discusses a case of a 39-year-old woman with severe psoriasis who experienced increased body hair density in new psoriatic plaques on her lower limbs after discontinuing ustekinumab treatment. Upon resuming the treatment, the psoriasis plaques resolved, and hair growth became homogeneous. The paper explores the relationship between psoriasis and hair growth, noting conflicting reports of hair loss and increased hair density in psoriatic plaques. Previous studies have suggested a connection between the mechanisms of psoriasis lesion formation and hair matrix keratinocytes proliferation during the anagen phase of hair growth. The role of ß-catenin, a protein involved in hair cycle control, and Wnt5a, a cytokine that may suppress hair follicle regeneration, is highlighted as a potential link between psoriasis and hair growth. However, the exact relationship between Wnt5a and ß-catenin signaling in psoriasis and hair growth remains unclear, suggesting a complex interplay that could regulate the pathogenesis of both conditions.