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Mol Cell Endocrinol 2002 Dec 30;198(1-2):89-95
Androgens and alopecia.
Androgens have profound effects on scalp and body hair in humans. Scalp hair grows constitutively in the absence of androgens, while body hair growth is dependent on the action of androgens. Androgenetic alopecia, referred to as male pattern hair loss (MPHL) in men and female pattern hair loss (FPHL) in women, is due to the progressive miniaturization of scalp hair. Observations in both eunuchs, who have low levels of testicular androgens, and males with genetic 5alpha-reductase (5alphaR) deficiency, who have low levels of dihydrotestosterone (DHT), implicate DHT as a key androgen in the pathogenesis of MPHL in men. The development of finasteride, a type 2-selective 5alphaR inhibitor, further advanced our understanding of the role of DHT in the pathophysiology of scalp alopecia. Controlled clinical trials with finasteride demonstrated improvements in scalp hair growth in treated men associated with reductions in scalp DHT content, and a trend towards reversal of scalp hair miniaturization was evident by histopathologic evaluation of scalp biopsies. In contrast to its beneficial effects in men, finasteride did not improve hair growth in postmenopausal women with FPHL. Histopathological evaluation of scalp biopsies confirmed that finasteride treatment produced no benefit on scalp hair in these women. These findings suggest that MPHL and FPHL are distinct clinical entities, with disparate pathophysiologies. Studies that elucidate the molecular mechanisms by which androgens regulate hair growth would provide greater understanding of these differences.
Eur J Endocrinol 2002 Sep;147(3):357-61
An endocrinopathy characterized by dysfunction of the pituitary-adrenal axis and alopecia universalis: supporting the entity of a triple H syndrome.
We demonstrate the rare disorder of triple H syndrome in a 25-year-old man. He was pointed out as having short stature, at -5.9 s.d., and diagnosed as GH deficient at 6 years old. Approximately a year ago, he noticed systematic hair loss. He lost body weight by 7 kg during the last half year. He was admitted to Jichi Medical School Hospital because of unconsciousness. Physical findings showed disturbance of consciousness with Japan Coma Scale I-3. He had emaciation and alopecia universalis. Laboratory findings showed plasma glucose was as low as 1.11 mmol/l. GH and ACTH deficiency with hypoadrenocorticism were clarified. His intelligence was in the low normal range with a WAIS IQ of 70, and anterograde amnesia was suggested in the presence of a little, but not significant, morphological change in the hippocampus on a magnetic resonance imaging scan. Replacement by a physiological dose of hydrocortisone normalized plasma glucose, and restored body weight and growth of hair during the 7 month therapeutic period. The present finding strongly supports a clinical entity of triple H syndrome, including ACTH deficiency, alopecia universalis and anterograde amnesia, and that there may be some variation of the triad among the subjects.
Dermatology. 2003;206(3):189-91.
Association between Smoking and Hair Loss: Another Opportunity for Health Education against Smoking?
Besides being the single most preventable cause of significant morbidity and an important cause of death in the general population, tobacco smoking has been associated with adverse effects on the skin. Smoke-induced premature skin ageing has attracted the attention of the medical community, while only recently an observational study has indicated a significant relationship between smoking and baldness. The mechanisms by which smoking causes hair loss are multifactorial and are probably related to effects of cigarette smoke on the microvasculature of the dermal hair papilla, smoke genotoxicants causing damage to DNA of the hair follicle, smoke-induced imbalance in the follicular protease/antiprotease systems controlling tissue remodeling during the hair growth cycle, pro-oxidant effects of smoking leading to the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines resulting in follicular micro-inflammation and fibrosis and finally increased hydroxylation of oestradiol as well as inhibition of the enzyme aromatase creating a relative hypo-oestrogenic state. In view of the psychological impact of androgenetic alopecia on affected men and women, increasing public awareness of the association between smoking and hair loss offers an opportunity for health education against smoking that may be more effective than the link between smoking and facial wrinkles or grey hair, since the latter can be effectively counteracted by current aesthetic dermatologic procedures, while treatment options for androgenetic alopecia are limited.
Vet Dermatol. 2003 Apr;14(2):91-7.
Retrospective evaluation of sex hormones and steroid hormone intermediates in dogs with alopecia.
The purpose of this study was to determine if there are specific steroid hormone aberrations associated with suspect endocrine alopecias in dogs in whom hypothyroidism and hyperadrenocorticism have been excluded. Steroid hormone panels submitted to the UTCVM endocrinology laboratory over a 7.5-year period (783 samples) from dogs with alopecia were reviewed. During this period, 276 dogs met the criteria for inclusion and were comprised of 54 different breeds. Approximately 73% of dogs had at least one baseline or post-ACTH stimulation steroid hormone intermediate greater than the normal range. The most frequent hormone elevation noted was for progesterone (57.6% of samples). When compared with normal dogs, oestradiol was significantly greater in Keeshond dogs and progesterone was significantly greater in Pomeranian and Siberian Husky dogs. Not all individual dogs had hormone abnormalities. Chow Chow, Samoyed and Malamute dogs had the greatest percentage of normal steroid hormone intermediates of the dogs in this study. Baseline cortisol concentrations were significantly correlated with progesterone, 17-hydroxyprogesterone (17-OHP) and androstenedione. Results of this study suggest that the pathomechanism of the alopecia, at least for some breeds, may not relate to steroid hormone intermediates and emphasizes the need for breed specific normals.
Natural Herbal Supplement: Hair Million
Hair loss, or alopecia is a concern for increasing number of folks in aging society. Loss of hair is indeed a visible problem.
The phenomenon of hair thinning and hair loss is most commonly associated with natural phenomena associated with aging, there are many other causes of hair loss, which include inherited or genetic conditions, illnesses, malnutrition, stress, hormonal problems, chemotherapy, and use of some drugs.
Hair growth is a sophisticated biological process, which has not yet been completely 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 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 HairMillion on hair loss and hair growth.
Bottom line is that there are two merits in this hair restoration herbal formula:
Firstly, Hair Million is rather inexpensive, and secondly, it is made of well known herbs that are safe when consumed in regular quantities. For clinically tested prescription medication, try Propecia.
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.
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