Author Interviews, Dermatology, Hair Care, JAMA / 11.10.2025

[caption id="attachment_70946" align="alignleft" width="200"]dr-brett-king Dr. King[/caption] Brett King, MD, PHD  Dr. King was named an American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) “Patient Care Hero” for his work treating patients with severe alopecia areata Dermatology Physicians of Connecticut Fairfield, Connecticut MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? Would you briefly explain the condition of Alopecia Areata? Response: Alopecia Areata (AA), an autoimmune form of hair loss, is common and its treatment has been revolutionized in the past ~3 years with approvals of 3 JAK inhibitors, bariticinib, ritlecitinib and deuruxolitinib. Prior to these approvals, off label treatments included the JAK inhibitors tofacitinib and ruxolitinib.   In a world of multiple treatments, especially when those treatments belong to the same medicine class, the question arises “If patients do not achieve treatment success with one medicine, might they achieve treatment success with another one?”
Aging, Dermatology, Genetic Research / 28.05.2025

How Do Genetics Influence Hair Loss Aging hair loss is a frequent problem, usually precipitated by hereditary causes earlier than most anticipate. Recognizing the contribution made by heredity can lead to more appropriate treatment and realistic expectations. Hair loss is the most common dermatological condition in aging individuals, especially men and is primarily genetically influenced. Research indicates that inherited influences from maternal and paternal sides can determine the chance, age at onset and degree of thinning and balding over time. Male pattern baldness or androgenetic alopecia, is the most common type and is considered to occur in over 50% of men by the age of 50. A striking characteristic of male pattern baldness is a receding frontal hairline, slowly developing more significant thinning across the temples and crown. This type of balding is correlated with the androgen hormone dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which is partly controlled through genetic sensitivity in the follicles. Those with a hereditary predisposition towards thinning are more susceptible to similar patterning, yet onset and progress can range widely in age and pace. Access to online prescribing of hair loss treatment makes early treatment more accessible for those seeking treatment. The procedure involves a consultation via the Internet with a registered prescriber to ascertain the suitability and safety of the prescribed treatment for the individual's condition and health background.
Hair Loss - Alopecia / 12.02.2025

[caption id="attachment_66511" align="aligncenter" width="500"]hair-loss-alopecia-men Freepik image[/caption] Hair loss in men is a common concern that affects millions worldwide. While genetics play a significant role, various scalp issues can contribute to thinning hair and baldness. Understanding these scalp problems and their potential treatments can help men take proactive steps to maintain a healthy head of hair. Scalp conditions like dandruff, seborrheic dermatitis, and fungal infections can lead to hair loss if left untreated. These issues often cause inflammation, irritation, and damage to hair follicles, disrupting the normal growth cycle. Additionally, autoimmune conditions such as alopecia areata can result in patchy hair loss on the scalp and other parts of the body. Fortunately, many scalp issues are treatable with proper care and medical intervention. From over-the-counter shampoos to prescription medications and hair loss spray suitable for any hair type, there are numerous options available to address these concerns and promote healthier hair growth.

Key Takeaways

  • Scalp issues can contribute significantly to hair loss in men beyond genetic factors.
  • Treating underlying scalp conditions is crucial for maintaining healthy hair growth.
  • Various treatment options, including specialized products and medical interventions, can help combat hair loss.
Dermatology, Mental Health Research / 26.07.2024

Hair loss can have profound psychological effects, impacting self-esteem and overall well-being. However, advancements in hair loss treatments, such as Minoxidil, offer hope by not only addressing physical symptoms but also improving mental health outcomes. Understanding the psychological benefits of these treatments is crucial for individuals seeking to regain confidence and emotional balance.

Addressing the Emotional Impact of Hair Loss

Hair loss is more than a cosmetic concern; it can significantly affect mental health. Many individuals experience feelings of embarrassment, anxiety, and reduced self-confidence due to changes in their appearance. Effective hair loss treatments play a pivotal role in alleviating these psychological burdens, fostering a positive outlook and enhancing quality of life.

How Minoxidil Works

[caption id="attachment_62607" align="alignleft" width="200"]hairloss-minoxidil_pexels-zvolskiy-1570807 Image source[/caption] Minoxidil, a topical medication approved by the FDA for hair loss treatment, stimulates hair follicles' growth phase and increases hair density. It promotes blood flow to the scalp, revitalizing dormant follicles and encouraging new hair growth. Minoxidil hair treatment offers a proactive approach that not only addresses thinning hair but also restores confidence in one's appearance.
Author Interviews, Dermatology / 14.05.2022

MedicalResearch.com Interview with: Naeem Bhojani, MD, FRCSC Division of Urology, Centre Hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal (CHUM), University of Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada David-Dan Nguyen MPH Division of Urological Surgery and Center for Surgery and Public Health, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MassachusettsFaculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada  MedicalResearch.com:  What is the background for this study?  Response: In a recent study by our group published in JAMA Dermatology (https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamadermatology/fullarticle/2772818), finasteride use was found to be associated with increased reporting of suicidality and depression in young patients with androgenetic alopecia. This previous analysis suggested that the association between finasteride and depression might be mediated by sexual dysfunction. Building on this work, we conducted this second analysis to examine the association between finasteride use and reports of sexual dysfunction.
Author Interviews, Brigham & Women's - Harvard, Dermatology, JAMA, McGill, Mental Health Research / 17.11.2020

Editor's note: This piece discusses suicide. If you have experienced suicidal thoughts or have lost someone to suicide and want to seek help, you can contact the Crisis Text Line by texting "START" to 741-741 or call the Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255.  MedicalResearch.com Interview with: David-Dan Nguyen, MPH Research Fellow | Center for Surgery and Public Health, Brigham and Women's Hospital Medical Student | McGill University MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? Response: There is ongoing concern about the side-effects of finasteride, a drug used for the management of alopecia and benign prostatic hyperplasia. These concerns have led to the coining of the “post-finasteride syndrome” which remains controversial. Indeed, there is conflicting evidence on the post-finasteride syndrome/adverse events associated with finasteride. We wanted to contribute to this conflicting body of evidence by examining suicidality, depression, and anxiety reports linked to finasteride use using the WHO’s pharmacovigilance database, VigiBase. Such pharmacovigilance databases are useful for the study of rare adverse events that are suspected to be associated with medication use.
Author Interviews, Dermatology, Pediatrics / 25.07.2020

MedicalResearch.com Interview with: [caption id="attachment_54952" align="alignleft" width="200"]Eunyoung Cho, Sc.D. Associate Professor and Director of Research Department of Dermatology The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University. Dr. Eunyoung Cho[/caption] Eunyoung Cho, Sc.D. Associate Professor and Director of Research Department of Dermatology The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University. MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? Response: We are interested in whether flares of alopecia area (AA), one of the most common autoimmune diseases resulting in sudden loss of scalp and facial hair, follow seasonal patterns and whether these potential patterns are related to climate factors.  We recently analyzed a set of data on pediatric AA flares, which demonstrated seasonal patterns, with the largest number of flares in the fall, finding that climate factors such as UV index were correlated with the AA flare frequency of patients in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, a geographical region with four distinct seasons.  Here, we explored the seasonal patterns and contribution of climate factors in pediatric AA patients in Providence, Rhode Island, another geographical region with four distinct seasons, to test whether we can replicate our previous findings.
Author Interviews, Dermatology, Mental Health Research, Pediatrics / 15.01.2020

MedicalResearch.com Interview with: [caption id="attachment_52797" align="alignleft" width="123"]Lucia Diaz, M.D.           Dr. Diaz[/caption] Lucia Diaz, M.D., is chief of pediatric dermatology, dermatology residency associate program director and assistant professor of medicine and pediatrics at Dell Medical School. She is also co-director of the dermatology-rheumatology combined clinic at Dell Children’s Medical Center. [caption id="attachment_52796" align="alignleft" width="150"]Sasha Jaquez,           Dr. Jaquez[/caption] Sasha Jaquez, Ph.D. is a pediatric psychologist at Dell Children's Medical School/Dell Children's Medical Center and specializes in seeing children with chronic medical illness, including skin disorders.     [caption id="attachment_52791" align="alignleft" width="294"]DermNet-NZ-trichotillomania DermNet-NZ Image Trichotillomania[/caption] MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? Response: Trichotillomania (TTM) can be an extremely disabling chronic condition that impacts the psychosocial development of children. It is classified by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) as an obsessive-compulsive disorder, where a person recurrently pulls out hair from any region of their body resulting in hair loss. Recognizing this disorder and being informed of treatment options allows medical providers to correctly diagnose and intervene early in the disease course. We reviewed the psychosocial impacts of pediatric trichotillomania and the current evidence-based interventions used in the population. 
Author Interviews, Dermatology / 19.02.2019

MedicalResearch.com Interview with: [caption id="attachment_47488" align="alignleft" width="199"]Cicatricial Alopecia Courtesy of Dr. Amy McMichael MD The Department of Dermatology Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center Winston-Salem, North Carolina  Cicatricial Alopecia
Courtesy of Dr. Amy McMichael MD
The Department of Dermatology
Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center
Winston-SalemNorth Carolina[/caption] Eli Sprecher MD PhD Professor and Chair, Division of Dermatology Deputy Director General for R&D and Innovation Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center Frederick Reiss Chair of Dermatology Sackler Faculty of Medicine Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel and MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? Response: Central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia (CCCA) is a form of hair loss (alopecia) which is extremely common and affects one in every 20 women of African origin. It starts usually during the fourth decade of life. Because it can be inherited from mothers to their children, it is thought to have a genetic basis. On the other hand, it is known to mainly affect women who use to groom their hair intensively. Thus it was thought that the disease stems from some form of inherited susceptibility to the damage incurred to the hair follicle by grooming habits. In the study we published, we searched for the genetic basis of CCCA. In contrast with the common form of alopecia (androgenetic alopecia or female pattern alopecia), CCCA is associated with scarring of the scalp skin, which means that once hair is lost, it will likely not re-grow.
Author Interviews, Dermatology, Technology / 19.09.2018

MedicalResearch.com Interview with: photostimulation of hair growthHan Eol Lee Ph.D. Flexible and Nanobio Device Lab. Department of Materials Science and Engineering KAIST MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? Response: Numerous people around the world have suffered from alopecia, which leads to aesthetic issues, low self-esteem, and social anxiety. With the population expansion alopecia patients from middle-age down even to the twenties, a depilation treatment is expected to have social and medical impacts on billions of patients. The causes of alopecia are generally known to be heredity, mental stress, aging, and elevated male hormone. Therapeutic techniques such as thermal, electrical, pharmacological, and optical stimulation have been proposed to treat hair problems. Among them, laser stimulation to hair-lost regions is a promising technique, activating the anagen phase and the proliferation of hair follicles without side effects. However, this laser stimulation technique has drawbacks, such as high power consumption, large size, and restrictive use in daily life (e.g., the difficulty of microscale spatial control and the long time exposure of high-energy laser). 
Author Interviews, Baylor College of Medicine Houston, Breast Cancer, Dermatology, JAMA / 15.02.2017

MedicalResearch.com Interview with: [caption id="attachment_31983" align="alignleft" width="225"]Julie Rani Nangia, M.D. Assistant Professor Breast Center - Clinic Baylor College of Medicine Houston, TX, US Dr. Julie Nangia[/caption] Julie Rani Nangia, M.D. Assistant Professor Breast Center - Clinic Baylor College of Medicine Houston, TX, US MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings? Response: This study was fueled by the feedback from women undergoing chemotherapy treatment for breast cancer. One of the most distressing side effects of their treatment is hair loss. It robs them of their anonymity and, for many, their femininity. Scalp cooling therapy has been available for a few years in the UK, but has faced obstacles in FDA clearance in the states. The makers of the scalp cooling device used in this study, Paxman Coolers Ltd., have a personal connection to breast cancer, as the company founder’s wife passed away from the disease. This was the first randomized scalp cooling study, and it shows that the Paxman Hair Loss Prevention System is an effective therapy for reducing chemotherapy-induced alopecia. The results show a 50% increase in hair preservation of grade 0 or 1, meaning use of a scarf or wig is not necessary, in patients who received the scalp cooling therapy as opposed to those who did not.
Annals Internal Medicine, Author Interviews, Dermatology, Immunotherapy / 15.11.2016

MedicalResearch.com Interview with: Dr. Morton Scheinberg, MD, PhD From Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein and Hospital AACD, São Paulo, and Clinica Dermatosineida, Maringa, Parana, Brazil. MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings? Response: That universal hair loss associated with a localized autoimmune reaction on the cells involved with the hair follicles can be halted with tofacitinib.
Author Interviews, Dermatology, JAMA / 25.08.2016

MedicalResearch.com Interview with: [caption id="attachment_27278" align="alignleft" width="80"]Lisa Earnest Ishii, M.D. Associate Professor, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Division of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive SurgeryJohns Hopkins School of Medicine Baltimore Maryland 21287 Dr. Lisa Ishii[/caption] Lisa Earnest Ishii, M.D. Associate Professor, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Division of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive SurgeryJohns Hopkins School of Medicine Baltimore Maryland 21287 MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings? Response: Hair transplantation for men suffering from male pattern hair loss is a common procedure to improve their appearance. However, to the best of our knowledge the impact of the procedure for men with hair loss had never been clearly demonstrated. We showed, for the first time, that men who undergo the procedure can have real improvements in attractiveness, age, and the appearance of successfulness as perceived by the casual observer in society.
Author Interviews, Brigham & Women's - Harvard, Colon Cancer, Dermatology, Nature, Testosterone / 14.01.2016

[caption id="attachment_20631" align="alignleft" width="160"]Dr. Nana Keum, PhD Department of Nutrition Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health Boston, MA Dr. NaNa Keum[/caption] More on Colon Cancer on MedicalResearch.com MedicalResearch.com Interview with: Dr. Nana Keum, PhD Department of Nutrition Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health Boston, MA Medical Research: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings? Dr. Keum: Male pattern baldness, the most common type of hair loss in men, is positively associated with androgens as well as IGF-1 and insulin, all of which are implicated in pathogenesis of colorectal neoplasia.  Therefore, it is biologically plausible that male pattern baldness, as a marker of underlying aberration in the regulation of the aforementioned hormones, may be associated with colorectal neoplasia.  In our study that examined the relationship between five male hair pattern at age 45 years (no-baldness, frontal-only-baldness, frontal-plus-mild-vertex-baldness, frontal-plus-moderate-vertex-baldness, and frontal-plus-severe-vertex-baldness) and the risk of colorectal adenoma and cancer, we found that frontal-only-baldness and frontal-plus-mild-vertex-baldness were associated with approximately 30% increased risk of colon cancer relative to no-baldness.  Frontal-only-baldness was also positively associated with colorectal adenoma.
Author Interviews, Prostate Cancer, University of Pennsylvania / 28.03.2013

MEDICALRESEARCH.COM INTERVIEW WITH Charnita Zeigler-Johnson, Ph.D., M.P.H. Research Assistant Professor CCEB University of Pennsylvania MEDICALRESEARCH.COM: What are the main findings of the study? Dr. Zeigler-Johnson: The main findings of the study are:
  • Younger African-American men diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer at an early age (under the age of 60) are more likely to have had a personal history of early-onset baldness (baldness by age 30.)
  • For older patients, this is not necessarily the case, and future studies will need to focus on which factors place men in this age group at risk for prostate cancer.