Miniaturized Hairs Maintain Contact with the Arrector Pili Muscle in Alopecia Areata but not in Androgenetic Alopecia: A Model for Reversible Miniaturization and Potential for Hair Regrowth

Hair follicle miniaturization is the hallmark of male pattern hair loss (MPHL), female pattern hair loss (FPHL), and alopecia areata (AA). AA has the potential for complete hair regrowth and reversal of miniaturization. MPHL and FPHL are either irreversible or show only partial regrowth and minimal...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inInternational journal of trichology Vol. 4; no. 3; pp. 154 - 157
Main Authors Yazdabadi, Anousha, Whiting, D, Rufaut, Nw, Sinclair, R
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published India Medknow Publications and Media Pvt. Ltd 01.07.2012
Medknow Publications & Media Pvt. Ltd
Medknow Publications & Media Pvt Ltd
Subjects
Alopecia
Baldness
Care and treatment
Diagnosis
Hair follicles
Hair loss
Original
Physiological aspects
Scalp
Stem cells
Transplantation
India
hair
regrowth
Arrector pili muscle
follicle
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Summary:Hair follicle miniaturization is the hallmark of male pattern hair loss (MPHL), female pattern hair loss (FPHL), and alopecia areata (AA). AA has the potential for complete hair regrowth and reversal of miniaturization. MPHL and FPHL are either irreversible or show only partial regrowth and minimal reversal of miniaturization. The arrector pili muscle (APM) attachment to the hair follicle bulge, a recognized repository of stem cells may be necessary for reversal of hair follicle miniaturization. Sequential histological sections from MPHL, FPHL, AA, and telogen effluvium were used to create three-dimensional images to compare the relationship between the APM and bulge. In AA, contact was maintained between the APM and the bulge of miniaturized follicles while in MPHL and FPHL contact was lost. Contact between the APM and the bulge in AA may be required for reversal of hair follicle miniaturization. Maintenance of contact between miniaturized follicles in AA could explain the complete hair regrowth while loss of contact between the APM and the bulge in MPHL and FPHL may explain why the hair loss is largely irreversible. This loss of contact may reflect changes in stem cell biology that also underlie irreversible miniaturization.
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ISSN:0974-7753
0974-9241
DOI:10.4103/0974-7753.100069