Stem Cells and Alopecia: A Review of Pathogenesis

    April 2012 in “ British Journal of Dermatology ”
    Khitam Al‐Refu
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    TLDR Damaged hair follicle stem cells can cause permanent hair loss, but understanding their role could lead to new treatments.
    The 2012 document reviews the involvement of hair follicle stem cells in the development of various types of alopecia, including scarring and nonscarring forms. It explains that these stem cells, which are multipotent and located in the bulge area of the hair follicle, play a crucial role in the hair growth cycle. The review discusses how the damage to these stem cells and their microenvironment, such as the sebaceous gland and bulge, can lead to permanent hair loss in conditions like lichen planopilaris and discoid lupus erythematosus, while other conditions like alopecia areata may allow for hair regrowth due to the preservation of the bulge region. It also notes that androgenetic alopecia is characterized by a defect in the activation of these stem cells rather than their loss. The document emphasizes the need for further research into the role of stem cells in alopecia pathogenesis and the potential for new treatments based on this knowledge.
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