Female Alopecia Research Articles

Strategies of coping and quality of life in women with alopecia.

Measurements of the quality of life (QoL) have recently become an integral part of dermatological studies. Our hypothesis is that QoL in patients with certain diseases can be affected by strategies of coping behaviour, as well as by personality traits. The aim of this study was to explore the particular correlation between QoL and strategies of coping in female patients with alopecia. Fifty female patients, diagnosed with either diffuse or androgenetic alopecia, were evaluated by the use of Hairdex, an instrument developed to measure QoL in patients with hair loss. Most patients also underwent additional psychological assessments. Findings indicated that patients with highly visible hair loss reported a more negative impact on four Hairdex dimensions (functioning, emotions, self-confidence and stigmatization) than patients whose hair loss was only slightly visible. However, a subgroup of patients, with non-visible symptoms of hair loss, showed striking signs of psychological disturbance. These disturbed patients displayed either dysmorphophobic or affective disorder tendencies. Future studies using QoL as an instrument in research on patients with alopecia should consider that in cases of female alopecia these measurements may be affected by psychological disturbances.

Elastic tissue in scars and alopecia.

A recent report suggests that elastic fibers appear in scars in a time-dependent fashion. This observation prompted our investigation, because we have found elastic tissue stains helpful in determining the pattern of scarring in cases of permanent alopecia. We carried out this investigation to determine if the Verhoeff-Van Gieson (VVG) elastic stain can reliably differentiate scarred from non-scarred dermis and to test our hypothesis that elastic stained sections are helpful in distinguishing lichen planopilaris (LPP) from lupus erythematosus (LE), central progressive alopecia in black females ("follicular degeneration syndrome" and "hot comb alopecia" are other terms used to describe this condition) and classic ivory white idiopathic pseudopelade. We studied histological sections from surgical scars of known duration, stained with the VVG elastic stain and VVG-stained sections of scalp biopsies from patients with established lesions of permanent alopecia. In most cases, both vertical and transverse sections were examined. In every case, the VVG stain clearly differentiated scar from the normal surrounding dermis. Distinct patterns of elastic tissue allowed for correct classification in most of the well-established cases of permanent alopecia studied. We determined that the Verhoeff-Van Gieson stain is an excellent stain to evaluate the pattern of scarring in cases of permanent alopecia and elastic tissue stains may be helpful in the histological evaluation of alopecia.

Hair Transplantation Update

Since the first published description in 1959, hair transplantation has progressed tremendously. This article provides an overview of hair transplantation and a discussion of selected controversies in hair transplantation. A review of the literature was undertaken to identify current controversies. Hair transplantation has been refined considerably since it was first performed. As new methods are described, controversies arise. In hair transplantation, these include use of various forms of anaesthesia, the planning of the recipient site, method of harvesting the donor area, megatransplant sessions, isolated frontal forelock transplantation, and use of lasers in hair transplantation. Hair transplantation is a time-tested, highly effective, permanent and natural method of improving male-pattern baldness and female alopecia. Improvements in technique continue to be developed, requiring one to keep abreast of changes in the field in order to provide patients with the best hair coverage possible while maintaining a natural appearance.

087 Quantitative evaluation of female diffuse alopecia

087 Quantitative evaluation of female diffuse alopecia

Treating patients with female alopecia

Female androgenic alopecia generally presents with the frontal one-third inch of hairline appearing normal, while the area behind this “permanent” hairline is thinning or balding. It is a defective model because it is derived from descriptive observations that apply to less than a third of the

Abnormal hair cycles in early androgenetic female alopecia

Abnormal hair cycles in early androgenetic female alopecia

Topical minoxidil gives modest benefit in female alopecia

Topical minoxidil gives modest benefit in female alopecia

The Therapeutic Use of Topical Minoxidil

Topical minoxidil is a trichogenic agent that stimulates the hair follicle via the vasoactive metabolite minoxidil sulfate without any evidence of antiandrogen activity or an effect on the immune system. Less than 5% of the applied dose is absorbed. The therapeutic effect on hair regrowth is demonstrated for androgenetic alopecia in males and females, by a computer-assisted image analysis counting technique of nonvellus hairs from a photographic print. Patients with severe alopecia areata respond poorly to topical minoxidil treatment. The most common adverse reactions are limited to irritant and allergic contact dermatitis on the scalp. The use of retinoic acid with topical minoxidil has been disappointing relative to the increase in systemic exposure. The value of topical minoxidil as an adjunct for the hair transplant procedure and its effect on hair loss from chemotherapy are being evaluated.

Female androgenic alopecia. The 3 alpha,17 beta-androstanediol glucuronide/sex hormone binding globulin ratio as a possible marker for female pattern baldness.

Twenty-five women fulfilling the criteria for female alopecia, of either the male pattern baldness type or female pattern baldness type, were evaluated for hormone markers to delineate the clinical baldness patterns. Women with a marked increase in the 3 alpha,17 beta-androstanediol glucuronide/sex hormone binding globulin ratio and low serum sex hormone binding globulin were noted to have female pattern baldness. This pattern of baldness may represent hair loss from the influence of minimal androgen excess on genetically sensitive hair bulbs in the absence of other signs of maximal androgen excess, including hirsutism, acne, or virilism.

On the endocrine substrate of diffuse female (androgenetic) alopecia

On the endocrine substrate of diffuse female (androgenetic) alopecia