TLDR A new topical solution safely reduces hair shedding by 38% on average by tightening a muscle in the scalp.
In a 2017 study, a topical solution called AB-102, containing a weak α₁ adrenergic receptor agonist, was tested on 40 female subjects to reduce hair shedding by contracting the arrector pili muscle. The study found that AB-102 reduced hair shedding by an average of 38%, with up to 77% reduction observed, and increased the force required to pluck hairs by an average of 20% within 2 hours of application. No significant adverse events were reported, indicating that AB-102 is both effective and safe for reducing hair shedding during styling.
7 citations,
October 2016 in “Dermatologic Therapy” About 40% of women without hair loss and 60% with hair loss experience a lot of hair shedding, especially those under 50 with long hair.
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December 2015 in “Dermatologic Therapy” Using a certain drug on the skin can help prevent hair loss caused by pulling on the hair.
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April 2015 in “British Journal of Dermatology” The hair shedding scale accurately identifies abnormal hair shedding in women with long hair, with grades 5 and 6 indicating excessive shedding.
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July 2005 in “Aesthetic Plastic Surgery” Hair transplantation successfully treated a woman's hair loss caused by a tight ponytail.
83 citations,
May 1999 in “International Journal of Dermatology” Hair loss that spreads out can often fix itself or be treated by finding and handling the cause.
November 2017 in “Dermatologic Therapy” A new topical solution safely reduces hair shedding by 38% on average by tightening a muscle in the scalp.
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