Skin Microbiota Ameliorates Androgenetic Alopecia by Harmonizing Skin Immuno-Inflammatory Balance

This study investigated the impact of the skin microbiome on hair growth in androgenic alopecia (AGA) model mice. It found that antibiotic-treated (ABT) mice exhibited sparse hair, thinner skin, and fewer hair follicles compared to antibiotic-free (ABF) mice. However, co-housing ABF and ABT mice improved these conditions, suggesting that the skin bacteriota plays a role in hair growth. The study observed changes in the expression of inflammatory markers and genes related to hair growth, indicating that the skin microbiome influences the immuno-inflammatory balance. The presence of specific bacteria, such as Lactobacillus and Proteus, was linked to these effects. The findings suggest that restoring skin bacteriota may help ameliorate DHT-induced hair loss by modulating the TLR4/NF-κB pathways, offering potential for bacterial-based therapies.