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Can
inflammation exacerbate baldness
Although rarely discussed, it is widely believed by dermatologists
and pathologists that androgenetic alopecia affected hair follicles
can have some degree of inflammation around them. Some dermatologists
have suggested that this inflammation may contribute to the hair
loss and be involved in the ultimate destruction of the hair follicles.
Several medical journal articles looking at skin biopsies of alopecia
affected skin have clearly shown that inflammation can be present
around miniaturized hair follicles. However, there is no solid evidence
that the inflammation is an important factor promoting pattern baldness.
The inflammation may just be a secondary phenomenon.
At least one company has attempted to identify the cause of the
inflammation and if reducing the inflammation could help with hair
regrowth. L'Oreal conducted a small study on 20 men with pattern
baldness with subjects applying an antimicrobial (anti bacterial
and antifungal) lotion (0.25% piroctone and 0.3% trichlosan) daily.
for 18 months. The effects of treatment were examined using questionnaires,
trichograms, and punch biopsies.
The results showed that inflammation around hair follicles observed
at the start of the study were almost entirely removed by the end
of the study. In association, there was a gradual reduction in androgenetic
alopecia severity until month 6 of treatment and thereafter any
improvement was maintained. The improvement was limited, but quantifiable
using the trichogram technique.
This small study suggests that skin flora can cause increased inflammation
around androgenetic alopecia affected hair follicles and that the
inflammation may have a small role to play in causing hair loss.
Reducing the skin flora activity and/or reducing inflammation may
help a little in reducing baldness, but it is clearly not the key,
or sole, cause of hair loss considering the volunteers' limited
response to treatment.
Can
inflammation exacerbate baldness references
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A, Johnson WC. Male pattern alopecia a histopathologic and histochemical
study. J Cutan Pathol. 1975;2(2):58-70.
- Young
JW, Conte ET, Leavitt ML, Nafz MA, Schroeter AL. Cutaneous immunopathology
of androgenetic alopecia. J Am Osteopath Assoc. 1991 Aug;91(8):765-71.
- Jaworsky
C, Kligman AM, Murphy GF. Characterization of inflammatory infiltrates
in male pattern alopecia: implications for pathogenesis. Br J
Dermatol. 1992 Sep;127(3):239-46.
- Sueki
H, Stoudemayer T, Kligman AM, Murphy GF. Quantitative and ultrastructural
analysis of inflammatory infiltrates in male pattern alopecia.
Acta Derm Venereol. 1999 Sep;79(5):347-50.
- Pierard GE, Pierard-Franchimont C, Nikkels-Tassoudji
N, Nikkels AF, Saint-Leger D. Effect of an antimicrobial lotion
on androgenetic alopecia related inflammation. In: van Nest D,
Randall VA (eds). Hair Research for the next millenium. Elsevier,
Amsterdam, 1996, 73-76.
- Kligman AM. The comparative histopathology
of male-pattern baldness and senescent baldness. Clin Dermatol.
1988 Oct-Dec;6(4):108-18
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