DreamPharm Products:
Hautarzt 2002 Dec;53(12):798-804
TrichoScan. A new instrument for digital hair analysis
BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: Hair loss or hair thinning is a common complaint in clinical dermatology. Patients seeking advice for hair loss are not necessarily bald. In addition, the effects of therapy are hard to measure. Consequently, there is a need for a sensitive tool to monitor hair loss and treatment response. Such a method must be able to analyze the biological parameters of hair growth, which are: 1: hair density (n/cm(2)), 2: hair diameter (micrometer), 3: hair growth rate (mm/day) and 4: anagen/telogen ratio. PATIENTS/METHODS: We present the TrichoScan as a method which combines epiluminescence microscopy (ELM) with automatic digital image analysis for the measurement of human, and potentially animal hair, in situ. The TrichoScan is able to analyze all biological parameters of hair growth with a so called intraclass correlation of approximately 91% within the same operator and an intraclass correlation of approximately 97% for different operators. RESULTS: The application of the technique is demonstrated by comparison of the hair parameters in individuals without apparent hair loss with men with untreated AGA and men after treatment with finasteride (1 mg/day), and women who were treated with minoxidil. We were able to detect a significant increase in hair counts and cumulative hair thickness 3 and 6 months after treatment. CONCLUSION: The advantage of the TrichoScan is that it can be used for clinical studies to compare placebo versus treatment or to compare different hair growth promoting substances, it can be used for studying AGA or other forms of diffuse hair loss, and it can be adopted to study the effect of drugs or laser treatment on hypertrichosis or hirsutism.
Ann Dermatol Venereol 2002 May;129(5 Pt 2):801-3
Androgenetic alopecia
Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) is the combined result of an androgen-dependent process and genetic transmission. These characteristics have mainly, if not exclusively, been demonstrated in men and perhaps improperly extended to women. When considering the androgen-dependent process, AGA must only be limited to the androgen receptor areas. In the scalp, these receptors have only been detected in the frontal and vertex areas but never in the temporal or the occipital areas. Male AGA exhibits these clinical features, whereas in women hair loss is rarely limited to this localization, even when large areas of hair loss often appear with age. It is now commonly accepted that male AGA is associated with an increase in 5 alpha reductase activity leading to an increase in local production of dihydrotestosterone. The mechanism by which the local dihydrotestosterone increase leads to hair follicle loss is not clearly demonstrated. Inhibition of cell proliferation in the dermal papilla and a vascular process based on the inhibition in local production of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) have been proposed. The increase in 5 alpha reductase activity is genetic and depends on androgen receptor polymorphism, characterized by a decrease in the number of CAG sequences on the exon 1. Male AGA is associated with an insulin-resistant process and to a higher risk of polycystic ovary in the lineage. Therapeutically, this hormone-dependent process explains the well demonstrated efficacy of 5 alpha reductase inhibitors. In women, except in some rare cases, alopecia is diffuse and the mechanisms are different. Their origin is unknown, and probably ambiguous. Based on an association with Hashimoto's thyroiditis, an auto-immune origin could be suggested in some cases. Alopecia is unaffected by thyroid substitution. Pharmacological doses of oestrogens (pregnancy, contraception) have a beneficial effect on such alopecia, probably through different mechanisms: anti-androgen effect, increased VEGF, proliferative effect of dermal papilla cells. However, it is important to mention that the dermal papilla has an aromatase, particularly in the occipital area, the activity of which has not been assessed in female alopecia. In practice 5 alpha reductase inhibitors are ineffective in women. It is likely that the predominance observed in the frontal and vertex areas, occasionally in elderly women, is a result of the two combined disorders, the almost physiological androgen-dependent hair loss combined with diffuse loss. Pharmacological doses of oestrogens associated with anti-androgen progesterone-like agents are widely used with positive results, but not demonstrated by clinical trials.
Skin Res Technol 2002 May;8(2):106-11
Contrast enhanced phototrichogram pinpoints scalp hair changes in androgen sensitive areas of male androgenetic alopecia.
BACKGROUND/AIM: In male androgenetic alopecia (AGA), global changes of scalp hair observed on many years are the cumulative result of discrete changes. Such changes reflect structural and/or functional modifications occurring at the level of individual hair follicles. The patterning of scalp hair loss is the phenotypic expression of clusters of hormone sensitive follicles located in specific scalp areas.The aim of this study was to evaluate, in 21 untreated male subjects with AGA, the relation between various hair measurements using a new validated photographic method with clinical staging (modified Norwood-Hamilton scale) as compared with five controls. METHODS: As recently demonstrated by comparison with transverse sectioning of scalp biopsies, dynamic changes occurring at the level of individual hair follicles can be accurately explored with the contrast enhanced phototrichogram technique (CE-PTG). This is a further improvement of the PTG (combined analysis of two photographs taken at 48 h interval) using contrast enhancement together with the scalp immersion proxigraphy method. Visible hair counts per unit area were first evaluated on photographs without and with CE. Then other scalp hair variables (anagen hair counts and proportion of thin hair (
Med Hypotheses 2002 Apr;58(4):261-3
Hormone-induced aberrations in electromagnetic adhesion signaling as a developmental factor of androgenetic alopecia.
In androgenetic alopecia, overactivation of the androgen hormone cascade in genetically predisposed persons leads to miniaturization of the dermal papilla of the hair follicle and to reduction in the number of papilla cells in the scalp, but the mechanisms explaining this miniaturization have remained unclear. According to our hypothesis, the increase of dihydrotestosterone (DHT) production in the overactive androgen state inhibits cell mitosis in the dermal papilla and contributes to the induction of programmed cell death (apoptosis). Normally, DNA molecules have a negative charge, which doubles in every cell mitosis. In the catagen and telogen phases, the sulphur-rich hair moves upwards, dehydrates and develops an increasing positive charge. In a normal hair-growth cycle, the epithelial column shortens and the secondary germ is formed and it invaginates the dermal papilla by electromagnetic attraction. In the mitotic inhibition state induced by DHT, the negative charge decreases, leading to a weakening of the electromagnetic adhesion forces and weaker electrical attraction between the undifferentiated germ cells and the dermal papilla. Insulin resistance has an additional pathogenic role in the excessive miniaturization of the hair follicle. The vasoactive substances associated with endothelial dysfunction in insulin resistance induce microcirculatory disturbance, perifollicular vasoconstriction and stimulation of smooth muscle cell proliferation in the vascular wall. This leads to microvascular insufficiency and local tissue hypoxia and progressive miniaturization of hair follicles.
Herbs offer many help benefitting phytochemicals that have not yet been fully understood or appreciated by science.
Made of famous Chinese traditional herbs, Hair Million is a herbal hair restorati
on formula for hair loss problems.
Numerous anecdotal cases have demonstrated Hair Million's capability to actually improve the age-related
hair thinning and hair loss for a significant fraction of
people who take it diligently.
It is unknown how Hair Million stops hair loss, and promotes hair growth, despite all the anecdotal observations.
Neither scientific research nor placebo controlled clinical trials has been conducted due to the cost.
Shortage of scientific/clinical research is not uncommon in herbal/nutritional arena. However, it is not reasonable to stop taking daily food and herbal supplements altogether just because of scietific/clinical support:
our life must go on while we strive to better understand food and herb that we consume today.
There are two merits that Hair Million enjoys: Firstly, Hair Million is relatively inexpensive, and secondly, it is made only of edible herbs that are known to be safe when they are consumed in regular quantities.
For scientifically proven prescription medication, try Buy Propecia Online.
DHEA has been suggested to provide numerous potential benefits. DHEA (or dehydroepiandrosterone) is converted into androgens (male hormones)
or estrogens (female hormones) in the cells.
Our bodies produce decreasing amount of DHEA as we get older.
various health benefits: To deter aging,
improve sexual function/erectile dysfunction, treat cognitive decline, enhance athletic performance,
facilitate weight loss, improve strength, prevent osteoporosis, enhance immunomodulation for rheumatic conditions,
and treat depression.
Herbs and Pharmaceuticals Online||
Constipation relief, laxative, colon cleansing ||
Best Realtor in Glendale, California: Residential Home and Commercial Property ||
Related Web pages ||
Herbs and Pharmaceuticals Online ||