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

DreamPharm Products:




Br J Dermatol 2002 Oct;147(4):789-92

Loose anagen syndrome as a severity factor for trichotillomania.


Loose anagen syndrome (LAS) is a condition of childhood where anagen hairs are easily and painlessly extracted. The condition is due to poor adhesion between the cuticle of the hair shaft and the inner root sheath. A 4-year-old girl presented with patches of hair loss and a clinical diagnosis of trichotillomania was made. A hair pull test extracted multiple hairs easily and painlessly. Light microscopic examination was consistent with LAS. A biopsy was performed, which showed features of trichotillomania. However, on request the child did not display sufficient dexterity to pull out her own hair. It was subsequently determined that her hair loss was likely to be due to a third person plucking out her hair. It appears that in this case the LAS was not the cause of her hair loss, but rather acted as a severity factor for trichotillomania by proxy in that the lack of pain on plucking the hairs removed the principle deterrent.


Eur J Dermatol 2002 May-Jun;12(3):236-9

HLA class II alleles in patients with alopecia areata.


Our purpose was to determine which HLA class II alleles are associated with Turkish alopecia areata patients. Also we investigated whether there was a relationship between the age of onset and severity of disease and HLA alleles or not. Sixty-five patients with alopecia areata were included in this study, and 50 healthy transplant donors were used as a control group. The total group of alopecia areata patients as well as various subgroups according to scalp hair loss were compared to the control group. HLA DNA typing was performed by polymerase chain reaction/sequence specific primer method. The frequency of DQB1*03 allele was 86.1% in all patients compared to 62.0% in controls (P = 0.005). While the frequency of DQB1*03 was significantly increased, the frequency of DRB1*03 was decreased in the all patients group (4.6% versus 22.0%, P = 0.01). In the group of scalp hair loss less than 25%; the frequency of DRB1*03 was decreased (3.2%, P = 0.02). The group of patients with 25-75% scalp hair loss was compared to control group; the frequencies of DRB1*04 (66.7% versus 28.0%, P = 0.02) was increased. When the alopecia totalis, alopecia universalis or alopecia totalis/alopecia universalis group was compared to control group; DQB1*03 was associated with an increased frequency in this group versus control group (90.9%, P = 0.03). There were no significant differences for the other DQ alleles and the DR alleles tested in the patients and in the controls. When patients with early onset were compared to patients with late onset; no significant allele differences were found. Our findings suggested that DQB1*03 allele is a marker for general susceptibility to alopecia areata and may also serve as special genetic marker for susceptibility for the severe form of alopecia areata in our population. However, this association is not related to age at onset of the disease.


Ann Dermatol Venereol. 2003 Mar;130(3):326-30.

Intravenous pulse methylprednisolone therapy for severe alopecia areata: an open study of 66 patients


INTRODUCTION: Treatment of alopecia areata is a difficult challenge. Some European publications have shown encouraging results with high dose pulse corticosteroid therapy in extensive plurifocal alopecia areata. We undertook a prospective open study between January 2000 and December 2001 using repeated pulse each month, with the aim of identifying the effects of this repetition and underlining the best indications. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Sixty-six patients aged 9 to 60 years old presenting an extensive alopecia areata exceeding 30% of the scalp surface (n=47), alopecia totalis (n=8), alopecia universalis (n=8), ophiasic alopecia (n=3), for less than 12 months entered this study. The administered treatment was methylprednisolone 500 mg/d during 3 days or 5 mg/kg twice per day during 3 days in children. These pulses were repeated after 4 and 8 weeks, then a second series was carried out or not according to cases. The main evaluation criterion was the percentage of new terminal hair appearing on the bald areas, appreciated by clinical and photographic evaluation at 3 and 6 months. RESULTS: Ophiasic alopecia areata did not respond to treatment. A quarter of patients presenting universal alopecia had a good response (higher than 80 p. 100) followed by a relapse in half the cases. Half of the patients presenting alopecia totalis had a good response, which was maintained three times out of four. Multifocal alopecia areata seems the best indication since the patients under study presented a good response in 63.8 p. 100 of cases (78 p. 100 when it was a first episode and 90.5 p. 100 if the treatment had been started in less than 3 months before). The repetition of the pulses did not appear to increase the number of responders. CONCLUSION: This study provides the best indication of pulse methylprednisolone therapy: first recent episode of extensive plurifocal alopecia areata. These results are less convincing in long term history or other forms of alopecia areata.


Australas J Dermatol. 2003 Feb;44(1):10-8.

Methods of evaluating hair growth.


For decades, scientists and clinicians have examined methods of measuring scalp hair growth. With the development of drugs that stem or even reverse the miniaturization of androgenetic alopecia, there has been a greater need for reliable, economical and minimally invasive means of measuring hair growth and, specifically, response to therapy. We review the various methods of measurement described to date, their limitations and value to the clinician. In our opinion, the potential of computer-assisted technology in this field is yet to be maximized and the currently available tools are less than ideal. The most valuable means of measurement at the present time are global photography and phototrichogram-based techniques (with digital image analysis) such as the 'TrichoScan'. Subjective scoring systems are also of value in the overall assessment of response to therapy and these are under-utilized and merit further refinement.


Are you losing hair gradually or all of a sudden ? Hair Million is a herbal formula to address hair loss problems. Numerous anecdotal cases demonstrate that this herbal formula based on Chinese herbs actually improves the age-related hair thinning and hair loss for a significant fraction of people taking it regularly. The biology of hair growth is complex and a field still in progress. We don't know how Hair Million stops hair loss, and promotes hair restoration, 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. Hair Million is relatively inexpensive, and secondly, it is made only of traditional herbs that promote hair growth that are widely known to be safe in regular quantities. For clinically tested prescription medication, check Propecia.








Related Web resources:


  • What is hair?
  • Curly Hair
  • Biology of hair growth and development.
  • The phenomenon of hair loss.
  • Methods and treatments for hair loss and baldness.
  • Drugs and hair transplantation surgery for hair loss and baldness.
  • Hair loss linked to other health problems.
  • Baldness by choice and fashion.
  • Alopecia info.
  • Alopecia treatment info.
  • Alopecia treatment info.
  • Hair care info.
  • Hair loss and alopecia research articles: abstracts and source links.



    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.





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