Hair Disorders

Hair Disorder
      

• Lotufo PA, Chae CU, Ajani UA, et al (Harvard Med School, Boston)
  Male Pattern Baldness and Coronary Heart Disease: The Physicians’ Health Study 
  Arch Intern Med 160: 165-171, 2000
      
  Male pattern baldness (MPB) and coronary heart disease (CHD) are noticed around 45 years of age. Increase in the incidence of the latter is directly related to the spread of baldness from the frontal region to the vertex in subsequent years. Androgens are expected to cause hyperlipidemia, atherosclerosis and CHD as well as MPB.
      
  The authors conclude that heredity may be an additional factor.
       
• Hirsutism 
  Moghetti P, Tosi F, Tosti A, et al (Univ of Verona, Italy; Univ of Bologna, Italy; Ospedale Maggiore, Verona, Italy)
  Comparison of Spironolactone, Flutamide, and Finasteride Efficacy in the Treatment of Hirsutism: A Randomized, Double Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial 
  J Clin Endocrinol Metab 85: 89-94, 2000
       
  In this study 40 hirsute women were treated with 100 mg/d of spironolactone or 5mg/d of finasteride or 250 mg/d of flutamide or a placebo.
      
  At the end of 6 months the authors found an improvement in all on active treatment. Reduced hair diameter was found in hair from the linea alba.
     
• Hirsutism – recurrence 
  Yucelten D, Erenus M, Gurbuz O, et al (Marmara Univ, Istanbul, Turkey)
  Recurrence Rate of Hirsutism After 3 Different Antiandrogen Therapies 
  J Am Acad Dermatol 41:64-68, 1999
      
  Hirsute women (n=81) received 1 of 3 schedules; spironolactone 100 mg/d with an oral contraceptive or an oral contraceptive and cyproterone acetate 50 mg/day (day 1 to 10 of the menstrual cycle) or 250 mg bid of flutamide.
      
  Treatment lasted till clearance of the hirsute state.
     
  Compared to the baseline fall in levels of testosterone and luteinizing hormone in the serum were recorded.
     
  At the end of 1 year of stopping treatment the authors noted all parameters to be at the pretreatment levels.
        
• Liew SH, Grobbelaar AO, Gault D, et al (Mount Vernon Hosp, Northwood, England)
  Ruby Laser-Assisted Hair Removal: A Preliminary Report of the Correlation Between Efficacy of Treatment and Melanin Content of Hair and the Growth Phases of Hair at a Specific Site 
  Ann Plast Surg 42: 255-258, 1999
      
  The authors have tried to evaluate the results of laser hair removal at clinically determined different phases of hair cycle. All participants were white with black hair.
       
  One group received a single dose of 11 J/cm2 on the legs. The second group showing the best results was treated once a month with a dose between 10.5 to 14.5 J/cm2. Evaluation was carried out at the end of 3 months.
       
  Highly pigmented hair seemed to respond better. One subject developed a crusted skin lesion. 
       
• Hair Removal 
  Schroeter CA, Raulin C, Thurlimann W, et al (Med Centre Maastricht, The Netherlands; Karlsruhe, Germany; Univ Hosp Aachen, Germany; et al)
  Hair removal in 40 Hirsute Women With an Intense Laser-Like Light Source
  Eur J Dermatol 9: 374-379, 1999
        
  Photothermolysis is exploited in this procedure. Unlike laser the light is incoherent in a spectrum of 500-1200 nm and thus adjustable during treatment, depending on the structures being eliminated.
       
  PhotoDerm VL (ESC Medical Systems Ltd, Yonkeam, Israel) is mentioned by the authors. The system also requires a cooling gel on the skin and filters that allow adjustment for skin type of the subject thus adding selectivity to the process. 
       
  Stinging sensation, erythema and edema are described as is dyspigmentation. Blond hair need more sessions than the black. Microscopic partial follicular damage, hair shrinkage and break at the epidermal surface are recorded by the authors.