Hair pain (trichodynia): frequency and relationship to hair loss and patient gender.

Herb/Nutrient Research Links:
References || Echinacea||Ginseng|| Ginkgo||Milk thistle|| Saw palmetto|| Bay||Bilberry|| Black cohosh||Licorice|| DHEA||Royal Jelly|| Garlic||Ginger|| Coenzyme Q10||Lutein|| rutin

DreamPharm Products:

Dermatology 2002;205(4):374-7

Hair pain (trichodynia): frequency and relationship to hair loss and patient gender.

Background: Patients complaining of hair loss frequently claim that their hair has become painful. Objective and Methods: The aim of the study was to evaluate the frequency of this phenomenon and its relationship to hair loss. Patients seeking advice for hair loss either spontaneously reported or were questioned about painful sensations of the scalp. Hair loss activity was quantified by a hair pull, daily count and wash test. Telogen percentage was obtained by a hair pluck. The scalp surface was examined by dermatoscopy. Results: Of 403 examined patients, 20% of women and 9% of men reported hair pain, irrespective of the cause and activity of hair loss. A minority presented scalp telangiectasia. This strongly correlated with hair pain. Conclusions: Hair pain (trichodynia) affects a significant proportion of patients complaining of hair loss and may increase the anxiety. The symptom neither allows discrimination of the cause nor correlates with the activity of hair loss. A higher prevalence of female patients might be connected to gender-related differences in pain perception in relation to anxiety. The role of vasoactive neuropeptides in the interaction between the central nervous system and skin reactivity is discussed. In the absence of any correlation with quantitative parameters of hair loss or specific morphologic changes of the scalp, management remains empiric and tailored to the individual.

Dermatol Surg 2002 Sep;28(9):783-94

The art of repair in surgical hair restoration part I: basic repair strategies.

BACKGROUND: An increasingly important part of many hair restoration practices is the correction of hair transplants that were performed using older, outdated methods, or the correction of hair transplants that have left disfiguring results. The skill and judgment involved in these repair procedures often exceed those needed to operate on patients who have had no prior surgery. The use of small grafts alone does not protect the patient from poor work. Errors in surgical and aesthetic judgment, performing procedures on noncandidate patients, and the failure to communicate successfully with patients about realistic expectations remain major problems. OBJECTIVE: This two-part series presents new insights into repair strategies and expands upon several techniques previously described in the hair restoration literature. The focus is on creative aesthetic solutions to solve the supply/demand limitations inherent in most repairs. This article is written to serve as a guide for surgeons who perform repairs in their daily practices. METHODS: The repairs are performed by excision with reimplantation and/or by camouflage. Follicular unit transplantation is used for the restorative aspects of the procedure. RESULTS: Using punch or linear excision techniques allows the surgeon to relocate poorly planted grafts to areas that are more appropriate. In special situations, removal of grafts without reimplantation can be accomplished using lasers or electrolysis. The key elements of camouflage include creating a deep zone of follicular units, angling grafts in their natural direction, and using forward and side weighting of grafts to increase the appearance of fullness. The available donor supply is limited by hair density, scalp laxity, and scar placement. CONCLUSION: Presented with significant cosmetic problems and severely limited donor reserves, the surgeon performing restorative hair transplantation work faces distinct challenges. Meticulous surgical techniques and optimal utilization of a limited hair supply will enable the surgeon to achieve the best possible cosmetic results for patients requiring repairs.

Arch Dermatol 2002 Jul;138(7):916-22

Mediation of alopecia areata by cooperation between CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes: transfer to human scalp explants on Prkdc(scid) mice.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the role of CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes in the pathogenesis of alopecia areata. DESIGN: Relapse of alopecia areata was induced in autologous human scalp grafts on Prkdc(scid) mice by injection of activated T lymphocytes derived from lesional skin. CD4+ and CD8+ T cells were separated by magnetic beads before injection. SETTING: University-based dermatology practice. PARTICIPANTS: Eleven patients with either alopecia totalis or severe alopecia areata. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Hair regrowth, hair loss, and immunohistochemical findings of scalp explants. INTERVENTION: Transfer of scalp T cells to autologous lesional scalp explants on Prkdc(scid) mice. RESULTS: Injection of unseparated T cells and mixed CD4+ plus CD8+ T cells resulted in significant hair loss (P<.01) in 5 of 5 experiments. However, injection of purified CD4+ or CD8+ T cells alone did not result in reproducible hair loss. CD4+ and CD8+ T cells induced follicular expression of intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (CD54), HLA-DR, and HLA-A, HLA-B, and HLA-C after injection into scalp grafts. CONCLUSIONS: CD4+ and CD8+ T cells have a role in the pathogenesis of alopecia areata. It is hypothesized that CD8+ T cells act as the effector cells, with CD4+ T cell help. It is now necessary to look for HLA-A, HLA-B, and HLA-C associations with alopecia areata. Therapeutic manipulations that interfere with CD8+ activity should be examined.

Cell Struct Funct. 2003 Feb;28(1):97-104.

Autoimmune hair loss induced by alloantigen in C57BL/6 mice.

Exponentially growing Meth-A cells expressing H-2K(d).D (d) antigen were found to induce alopecia when injected intraperitoneally into normal C57BL/6 mice, which express the H-2K(b).D (b) antigen. However, the capacity to induce alopecia disappeared when Meth-A cells were treated with K252a, which inhibits protein kinases. Histologically, skin in affected areas showed dense mononuclear cell infiltration and a focal foreign-body giant-cell reaction in hair follicles. The subtyping of lymphocytes in peripheral blood demonstrated a significant difference between normal mice and Meth-A cell-injected mice. To further examine the mechanism by which the alloantigen induces alopecia, lymphocytes isolated from the peripheral blood of normal C57BL/6 mice were cultured in medium containing Meth-A cell homogenate, phytohemagglutinin (PHA) and recombinant mouse interleukin-2 (rm IL-2), and intravenously injected into normal C57BL/6 mice. The adoptive transfer of the lymphocytes induced alopecia in a similar way. These findings suggest that the protein kinase-modulated alloantigen induces alopecia by disturbing the immunological homeostasis, and that lymphokine-activated killer cells play an important role in induction of alopecia by cross-reacting with hair follicles.

Hair growth is a sophisticated biological process, which is still not thoroughly understood. A multitude of therapeutic measures, including drugs, surgery, and suppelements have been made available, and used. However, due to the diversity of the problems underlying hair loss, there is no single solution for all hair loss cases. Most of chemical drugs and hair transplantation surgeries are not free from varying degrees of undesirable side effects on health.

Hair Million is an alternative solution to hair loss problems. Anecdotally, it shows prositive results and improvement especially for age-related hair thinning and hair loss for a fraction of people who take it. We do not know the mechanisms of action as to how Hair Million works to help stop hair loss, and promote hair growth. We only know by anecdotal observations. There has been no clinical trials nor placebo controlled statistical analysis on the efficacy of Hair Million on hair loss and hair growth. For the clinically tested, FDA approved prescription medication, check Buy Propecia Online.

Herbs and Pharmaceuticals Online|| Best Realtor in Glendale, California: Residential Home and Commercial Property || Related Web pages || Herbs and Pharmaceuticals Online ||