9 citations
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May 2001 in “Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association” This case report describes a cat that developed alopecia and hyperactivity after ingesting valproic acid from contaminated household food, with symptoms resolving after the drug was removed.
260 citations
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January 2020 in “Nature” Stress can cause hair to turn gray by depleting stem cells.
This study found that acute stress can cause rapid hair loss by triggering necrosis in hair follicle cells and initiating autoimmunity, revealing a mechanism where stress-induced nerve activity leads to tissue damage and immune system activation.
27 citations
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June 2023 in “Nature” In this study using genetic mouse models, researchers discovered that senescent melanocytes in nevi secrete osteopontin, which activates hair stem cells, enhancing hair growth; this process is mirrored in human hairy nevi, suggesting a potential therapeutic target for regenerative disorders.
5 citations
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May 2017 in “Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology” In this study, plasma levels of MSH and cortisol in patients with alopecia areata did not show significant changes compared to healthy controls.