Curr Opin Pediatr. 2009;21:475

Edited for hair loss blog use

An update on hair loss due to alopecia areata.
Kos L,

Hair loss due to alopecia areata is one of the most frequent organ-restricted autoimmune diseases, yet its pathogenesis is still unclear. In addition, although alopecia areata often results in significant psychological distress, effective treatment is lacking. New potential susceptibility loci have been implicated, but the strongest evidence points to certain class II human leukocyte antigen alleles. There is new evidence for the collapse of hair follicle immune privilege as a key step in the pathogenesis of alopecia areata. There is also new basic science evidence for stress as a contributing factor in the development of alopecia areata. Few treatments for alopecia areata have been well evaluated in randomized trials. Although multiple potential susceptibility loci have been implicated, the genetics of alopecia areata is still unclear. The role of any potential environmental contributors is also unclear. Quality evidence for efficacy in hair regrowth of currently used treatments for alopecia areata is lacking.

Br J Dermatol. 1978;99

The long term effect of repeated pluckings on the function of the mouse vibrissal follicles.
Ibrahim L, Wright EA.

Single mouse vibrissae were plucked repeatedly at the same time of the cycle (10–15 days after eruption) for ten successive cycles from eight individual follicles. After three pluckings the first grey whisker appeared, after six pluckings all regrown hairs were grey. Two follicles stopped hair regrowth after seven pluckings and another two after the 8th. Henceforth only 50% of the follicles continued producing whiskers until the end of the experiment. All the follicles which ceased to produce whiskers had a keratogenous cyst occupying most of the follicle in direct contact with the dermal papilla. In all cases the isolated dermal papilla was condensed and rounded in shape. Both loss of pigment and cyst formation could be due to the mechanical damage in the follicle caused by repeated plucking.

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