Abstract
The hair cycle and hair follicle structure are highly affected by various hormones. Androgens—such as testosterone (T); dihydrotestosterone (DHT); and their prohormones, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) and androstendione (A)—are the key factors in terminal hair growth. They act on sex-specific areas of the body, converting small, straight, fair vellus hairs into larger darker terminal hairs. They bind to intracellular androgen receptors in the dermal papilla cells of the hair follicle. The majority of hair follicles also require the intracellular enzyme 5-alpha reductase to convert testosterone into DHT. Apart from androgens, the role of other hormones is also currently being researched—e.g., estradiol can significantly alter the hair follicle growth and cycle by binding to estrogen receptors and influencing aromatase activity, which is responsible for converting androgen into estrogen (E2). Progesterone, at the level of the hair follicle, decreases the conversion of testosterone into DHT. The influence of prolactin (PRL) on hair growth has also been intensively investigated, and PRL and PRL receptors were detected in human scalp skin. Our review includes results from many analyses and provides a comprehensive up-to-date understanding of the subject of the effects of hormonal changes on the hair follicle.
Highlights
The hair cycle, as well as the structure of the hair follicle, are highly affected by various hormones.In particular, the impact of androgens has been studied and exhaustively described in previous studies [1,2]
The main action of androgen on the hair follicle is related to binding to androgen receptors in dermal papilla cells [11]
Androgen receptors are located in human hair follicles in the dermal papilla cells
Summary
The hair cycle, as well as the structure of the hair follicle, are highly affected by various hormones. Androgens influence hair follicles depending on the hair location on the body. Research studies provide information about the locations of androgen production related to enzymes in the hair structure. This review provides a comprehensive up-to-date understanding of the subject of the hormonal effects on the hair follicle. This review highlights the significant progress in research that has been made in recent years on the effects of hormonal changes on hair at different stages of the life of women [3]. 2020, 21, x FOR PEER REVIEW structure of 5342 the hair follicle can be divided into the upper and the lower parts. The hair bulb is built by the dermal papilla
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
