DreamPharm Products:
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.
Clin Exp Dermatol 2002 Jul;27(5):366-72
Clinical relevance of hair microscopy in alopecia.
Hair microscopy can clarify the cause of hair loss in a range of diagnoses. Most of these are associated with hair breakage, the rest are related to lack of growth. Hair breakage may be due to excessive trauma or underlying susceptibility, where structural clues may be present. Lack of growth reflects follicular dynamics and represents the central mechanism of most common causes of alopecia. In such conditions, microscopy only reveals nonspecific confirmation of short anagen. Although this may assist clinical diagnosis, microscopy in alopecia only allows exclusion of diagnoses related to hair breakage. Confidence in the outcome of hair microscopy is based on the size of the sample of hairs, the length of the hair, the characteristics of the observations and the experience of the person undertaking the microscopy.
Pediatr Dermatol 2002 Mar-Apr;19(2):155-8
Alopecia areata in infants and newborns.
Alopecia areata is a common cause of nonscarring hair loss in children and adults. In newborns and very young infants, however, it is thought to be extremely rare. In this article we describe five cases of alopecia areata in patients less than 6 months of age and briefly discuss the pertinent differential diagnosis of infants and newborns with both patchy and complete hair loss. We propose that alopecia areata may be more common in this age group than the literature suggests.
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.
Sudden hair loss and
baldness is a problem in many ways.
Baldness is indeed becoming an increasing concern in the current aging society.
herbs and herbal formulahair loss
and start hair growth.
For clinically validated prescription medication, check 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.
Herbs and Pharmaceuticals Online||
Best Realtor in Glendale, California: Residential Home and Commercial Property ||
Related Web pages ||
Herbs and Pharmaceuticals Online ||