TLDR Topical tacrolimus reduces certain growth factors in hair follicles.
In this study, topical tacrolimus 0.1% ointment was applied to the skin of depilated C57BL/6 mice to investigate its effects on hair follicles during the anagen phase of the hair cycle. The research focused on the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) mRNAs. While no significant differences were observed in skin color, hair cycling, or histological features between treated and untreated skin, the study found that the levels of Vegf and Igf-1 mRNA were significantly reduced in the treated skin during late anagen. This suggested that tacrolimus might suppress these growth factors, potentially influencing hair growth processes.
November 2003 in “Dermatologic Surgery” Minoxidil, finasteride, and hair transplantation combined give best results for hair loss.
49 citations
,
August 2003 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology” Higher IGF-1 levels in hair follicles link to better finasteride results for hair loss.
520 citations
,
February 2001 in “Journal of Clinical Investigation” VEGF helps hair grow and determines follicle size by increasing blood vessel growth.
47 citations
,
May 1995 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology” Hair follicles in people with alopecia have lower levels of a key blood vessel growth protein.
124 citations
,
August 1994 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology” Dexamethasone speeds up hair loss in mice, while cyclosporin A slows it down.
54 citations
,
February 1994 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology” 
210 citations
,
July 1993 in “The journal of investigative dermatology/Journal of investigative dermatology” Hair color production in mice is closely linked to the hair growth phase and may also influence hair growth itself.
1 citations
,
January 2010 in “Elsevier eBooks” Any drug can cause skin reactions, but antibiotics, NSAIDs, and psychotropic drugs are more common, with some reactions being life-threatening.
99 citations
,
July 2017 in “Clinical Reviews in Allergy & Immunology” New treatments for Alopecia Areata show promise but need to be more effective and affordable.
2 citations
,
October 2015 in “Human Gene Therapy” The congress highlighted new gene therapy techniques and cell transplantation methods for treating diseases.
New hair regrowth therapies show promise but need more research.
6 citations
,
August 2022 in “International journal of molecular sciences” α-Phellandrene may help prevent hair loss by increasing growth factors and cell growth in hair cells through a specific signaling pathway.
