This study found that in individuals with alopecia, scalpmicrobialdiversity decreased while Cutibacterium acnes abundance increased, and that treating Cutibacterium acnes-infected mice with Lactobacillus plantarum L30 improved hair follicle health and hair growth, suggesting a potential new treatment pathway for alopecia.
This study reviewed current scientific evidence on how scalp microbiome alterations may affect hair growth, citing connections to inflammatory and immune processes and suggesting potential for therapeutic targeting, though further studies are needed to confirm clinical applications.
July 2026 in “Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology”
This study found that patients with androgenetic alopecia had increased scalpmicrobialdiversity and reduced Staphylococcus abundance, particularly in the frontal and vertex regions, suggesting this dysbiosis as a sensitive indicator of AGA.
This study found that individuals with seborrheic alopecia had significant disruptions in their scalp microbiome, marked by imbalances in certain bacteria and fungi, and that a 12-week herbal shampoo intervention helped restore microbialdiversity and improve clinical symptoms.
Scalp biopsies are crucial for diagnosing hair loss conditions like Diffuse Unpatterned Alopecia (DUPA) and retrograde hair loss, as treatments like finasteride and dutasteride may not be effective if other conditions are present. Combining PPAR-GAMMA agonists with retinoids could improve treatments for conditions like Lichen Planopilaris.
Hair loss may be influenced more by inflammation, microbiome imbalances, and gut health than DHT. Treatments discussed include minoxidil, finasteride, RU58841, fecal microbiota transplants, and JAK inhibitors.
Hair growth success may be linked to addressing scalp fungi issues, with treatments like minoxidil, finasteride, and dutasteride being important. DHT may contribute to scalpmicrobial issues, potentially causing inflammation and hair loss.
Dutasteride may not be effective for everyone due to underlying issues, suggesting scalp biopsies for further diagnosis. Users discuss using higher doses of dutasteride, topical treatments, minoxidil, and pyrilutamide for hair loss management.
Malassezia overgrowth can worsen oily scalp and inflammation, contributing to hair loss. Treatments include antifungal shampoos, C6/C8 MCT oil, low-dose isotretinoin, finasteride, and dutasteride.