The Menopausal Transition: Is the Hair Follicle "Going through Menopause"?

This article explores the link between menopause and changes in the hair follicle (HF) lifecycle, focusing on hormonal and metabolic dynamics. During menopause, hormonal fluctuations and aging can impact the HF, leading to phenomena such as thinning, loss of volume, and changes in hair texture. These changes are primarily attributed to a decrease in estrogen levels. However, not all women experience significant hair changes during menopause, and the extent of transformations can vary considerably from person to person, influenced by genetic factors, stress, diet, and other elements. Furthermore, menopause mirrors the aging process, affecting metabolism and blood flow to the HFs, influencing the availability of vital nutrients. The article also discusses the key role of energy metabolism in the HF lifecycle and the effect of hormones, particularly estrogens, on metabolic efficiency. The concept of a possible "menopause" clinically independent of menopause is introduced, related to changes in HF metabolism, emphasizing the importance of individual factors such as estrogen receptor responses, genetics, and last but not least, the microbiota in determining these dynamics.

Corrigendum: Resistance and pseudo-resistance to permethrin phenomena: the importance of controlling scabies.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2023.1297337.].

Protective effects of sunscreen (50+) and octatrienoic acid 0.1% in actinic keratosis and UV damages.

Actinic keratosis is a form of dysplastic epidermal lesion resulting from chronic and excessive UV exposure with a certain risk of becoming cancerous. Current guidelines advocated the use of sunscreens to prevent photodamage. An efficient photoprotection must involve both primary protective factors such as UV filters and secondary factors (eg, antioxidants) able to disrupt the photochemical and genetic cascade triggered by UVs. An in vitro model of human skin (Phenion FT) was used to assess the photoprotective potential of a sunscreen containing inorganic sun-filters (50+ SPF) and 0.1% octatrienoic acid (KERA'+) after UVA (10 J/cm2) and UVB (25 mJ/cm2) by means of evaluation of the number of sunburn cells (SBCs) and apoptotic keratinocytes. Also resulting alterations in the gene expression of markers involved in apoptosis (Tumor protein 53), inflammation/immunosuppression (IL-6 and IL-8), oxidative stress (oxidative stress response enzyme heme oxygenase 1), remodeling (metalloproteinase 1) and cell-cell adhesion (E-cadherin) were investigated. Gene expression was investigated using quantitative real-time PCR. This work demonstrated that the sunscreen preparations under study (with and without 0.1% octatrienoic acid, respectively) can be distinguished about their ability to prevent UVs-induced damage. Synergism between the inorganic filters and 0.1% octatrienoic acid was found (KERA'+) on all end points analyzed and this effect was found to be statistically significant (p<0.05). Our data revealed that topical application of a sunscreen containing inorganic filters (50+SPF) and 0.1% octatrienoic acid can protect from SBC formation, reduce the number of apoptotic keratinocytes and protect from the main molecular alterations caused by UV radiations.

A Randomized Double-Blind Parallel-Group Study to Evaluate the Long-Term Effects of a Medical Device Containing 0.3% Octatrienoic Acid in the Treatment of Grade III Actinic Keratosis.

INTRODUCTION: Actinic keratosis (AK) consists of skin lesions with a milder degree of keratinocytic atypia. It can be also referred to as "field of cancerization," which can potentially evolve to cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Several therapeutic options are currently available, but not all are indicated on hyperkeratotic lesions. This study aimed to test the efficacy and tolerability of a medical device containing 2,4,6-octatrienoic acid and urea for the treatment of hyperkeratotic AK lesions. METHODS: Seventy male and female subjects with grade III AK were enrolled in this randomized double-blind parallel-group study. The product was applied once daily for three consecutive months. The primary efficacy endpoint was the reduction in the mean number of AK lesions per subject from baseline (T0) to the end of the trial (T1) and 3 months after the end of the treatment period (T2). Therefore, clearance of target AK lesions at the end of the treatment period and local skin reaction score (LSR) versus baseline were evaluated. RESULTS: There was a decrease of mean values from baseline to visit T2 in both treatment groups, but the decrease (versus baseline values) was more evident in the Kerà K2 group than in the placebo group (-42.78, SD 26.53, versus -6.20, SD 31.57), and the difference was statistically significant (p < 0.001). For 70 subjects (56.7%) in the Kerà K2 group and 3 (11.54%) in the placebo group, a significant (p < 0.005) partial clearance was evidenced. The product was well tolerated, and no serious adverse events were reported during the duration of the trial. Subject self-assessment of acceptability, local tolerability, and the cosmetic result was good at both T1 and T2 for both groups. CONCLUSIONS: The medical device has demonstrated good efficacy in the reduction of visible AKs, encouraging its use.

In vitro and in vivo Evaluation on the Safety and Efficacy of a Brand-New Intracutaneous Filler with α1-R-Collagen.

Nowadays, the most advanced skin anti-aging treatments are addressed to restore the extracellular matrix (ECM) homeostasis. ECM is considered the main player not only as physical support of the tegument but also at the biochemical level, thanks to its capacity to exchange nutrients, water, cellular mediators, and growth factors within and between cells. This study aimed to evaluate the in vitro and in vivo efficacy and aesthetic performance of a brand-new intracutaneous filler. The latter is based on novel concepts: besides filling it exerts a homeostatic balance of nutrients able to delay the skin aging process by sustaining physiological rejuvenation of the tissue and in the surrounding injection/implantation area. The brand-new intracutaneous filler was tested for in vitro capacity to stimulate extracellular matrix components production. Therefore, a single session for injection of the product under study was performed by a specialized dermatologist, using the bolus technique on the zygomatic protuberance of 20 healthy female subjects with midface volume loss, caused by aging. Results confirmed the important and long-term volumizing, anti-wrinkle, the hydrating activity of this product after one single injection session. The biological outcomes also support product effectiveness in skin structure restoration.

Italian Survey for the Evaluation of the Effects of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic on Alopecia Areata Recurrence.

INTRODUCTION: The inflammation storm involved in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection and worsening and the psychological stress derived from current quarantine conditions can affect the course of many skin and scalp conditions. This study examined the possible effects of COVID-19 on alopecia areata (AA) relapse in patients suffering from these scalp conditions during the pandemic. METHODS: The study was carried out in the form of an observational cross-sectional type using a questionnaire sent by mail to a cohort of patients affected by AA during the pandemic from March 2020 to October 2020. RESULTS: During the pandemic, AA relapse was reported in 42.5% of the participants who also declared COVID-19 infection, confirmed by nasopharyngeal swab or hematological analysis. The relapse was reported about 2 months later COVID-19 infection (median of 2.14 months) and 74.0% of these participants continue to experience AA symptoms when the survey was proposed. Only 12.5% of participants reported AA relapse in the absence of COVID-19 infection. CONCLUSIONS: The present study reported a significant relapse in patients suffering from AA and infected by COVID-19. This phenomenon could be attributed to the inflammation storm typical of COVID-19 infection and the psychological stress derived from quarantine conditions.

'Omics' approaches for studying the microbiome in Alopecia areata.

Nowadays, the involvement of the microbiome in human health and many human diseases, including that strictly related to the scalphas been brought to the light. Indeed, more recently, authors highlighted the presence of a significant microbial shift both in nonscarring (Androgenetic alopecia and Alopecia areata) and scarring Alopecias. The advent of novel technologies together with the effort of many scientists in the microbiome field could provide in the nearest future a clearest framework about the strict relationship between human healthiness and symbiotic microorganism resident on different ecosystem of our body. In this view, the use of Omics approaches has to be considered as no longer negligible when studying the microbiome implication in human health and disease.

Efficacy of Postbiotics in a PRP-Like Cosmetic Product for the Treatment of Alopecia Area Celsi: A Randomized Double-Blinded Parallel-Group Study.

INTRODUCTION: Alopecia areata (AA), also known as 'area Celsi', is the second most common form of hair loss affecting the scalp. Newly proposed treatments for AA include low-level light therapy, biologics such as Janus kinase inhibitors and autologous platelet-rich plasma (PRP), which is a well-known "elixir" for hair growth. Bioactive peptides developed through biotechnological applications have been used to overcome the limitations of PRP. More recently, the involvement of microbiota in hair growth disorders, in AA in particular, has been reported, and the usefulness of microbial metabolites, i.e. postbiotics, has been suggested. METHODS: This study was a randomized double-blinded parallel-group study in which 160 persons of both sexes affected by AA and aged between 18 and 60 years were enrolled. The subjects were randomly assigned to a treatment group (group 1), receiving the TR-PRP plus-Celsi cosmetic product, and a placebo group (group 2). The SALT (Severity of Alopecia Tool) score was determined in both groups at baseline and after 2 and 3 months of treatment, and the results compared between groups. RESULTS: The subjects in group 1 showed a significant change from baseline in SALT score at 2 months of treatment (61.04% ± 3.45%; p < 0.0001), with a further improvement at the end of treatment (3 months) (69.56% ± 4.32%; p < 0.0001). No significant changes from baseline were reported for the subjects in group 2 (T1: 26.45% ± 3.64%; T3: 27.63% ± 7.61%). CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study provide further proof of the efficacy of bioactive peptides that mimick the growth factors present in PRP in subjects affected by AA. They also add to our knowledge of the link between microbiota and hair growth disorders, emphasizing the importance of studies on the microbial community and microbial metabolites as a novel therapeutic approach.

The human hair: from anatomy to physiology.

BACKGROUND: Hair is a unique character of mammals and has several functions, from protection of the skin to sexual and social communication. In literature, there are various studies about hair that take into consideration different aspects within many fields of science, including biology, dermatology, cosmetics, forensic sciences, and medicine. METHODS: We carried out a search of studies published in PubMed up to 2013. RESULTS: In this review, we summarized the principal anatomical and physiological aspects of the different types of human hair, and we considered the clinical significance of the different structures and the distribution of the hair in the human body. CONCLUSION: This review could be the basis for improvement and progression in the field of hair research.