UV Light May Induce Hypertrichosis Through Production of Prostaglandin E2
October 2006
in “
Medical hypotheses
”
UV light hypertrichosis Prostaglandin E2 PGE2 skin cyclooxygenase-2 COX-2 hair growth eyelash growth body hair growth scalp hair growth glaucoma topical applications intracellular CAMP Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase G6PD anagen phase dehydrotestosterone DHT dehydroepiandrosterone adenyl cyclase excessive hair growth CAMP growth phase
TLDR UV light might cause excessive hair growth by increasing PGE2 in the skin.
The document from 2007 suggests that UV light may induce hypertrichosis (excessive hair growth) by increasing the production of Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) in the skin. UV irradiation activates cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) enzyme, leading to high levels of PGE2, which is known to stimulate hair growth. This is supported by observations that prostaglandins can stimulate eyelash, body, and scalp hair growth in various contexts, including the use of eye preparations for glaucoma and topical applications in animal models. The document also notes that PGE2 increases intracellular CAMP levels, which in turn stimulates Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) activity, an enzyme whose activity increases during the anagen (growth) phase of the hair cycle. The inhibitory effects of dehydrotestosterone and dehydroepiandrosterone on hair growth are attributed to their inhibitory effects on adenyl cyclase and G6PD, respectively. Therefore, the document concludes that UV light may promote hypertrichosis through the production of PGE2.
