A lot of hair loss treatments focus on two things:
1. Keeping the hair in the anagen (growth phase) for longer by increasing growth factors involved in maintaining the anagen phase
2. Preventing the hair from shedding by blocking transforming growth factors, which transition hair follicles from anagen to catagen (resting)
I previously mentioned quite a bit about the growth factors that help maintain the anagen phase: VEGF, FGF7, EGF (and there are others).
Hair loss treatments that belong to the second category attempt to inhibit transforming growth factors such as TGFbeta2.
It’s hypothesised by some researchers that the androgen hormone DHT increases TGFbeta2 in the hair follicles:
At the initiation, dihydrotestosterone (DHT) stimulates synthesis of transforming growth factor-beta2 (TGF-beta2) in dermal papilla cells. TGF-beta2 suppresses proliferation of epithelial cells and stimulates synthesis of certain caspases. Then TGF-beta2 triggers the intrinsic caspase network and subsequently epithelial cells are eliminated through apoptotic cell death.
Via PubMed
In my next update I’ll be explaining why DHT increases TGF, how you can reduce scalp TGF and if you really want to reduce scalp TGF.
How to reduce scalp TGF
Ok, how I can reduce scalp TGF and how to reduce scalp TGF?
Topical taurine, apigenin and curcumin have all been shown to reduce TGF.
I use apigenin and taurine together at 1-2% each. Taurine has other major benefits for hair growth.
Thanks a lot Chris. I’ll try.
What do you think about l-carnitine. Apparently l-carnitine increases androgen receptors?
Interesting, I wasn’t aware of that so I’ll look into it. I’ve read a lot of good stuff about topical Carnitine. Check this out:
https://www.nicehair.org/topical-carnitine-for-hair-loss-surprisingly-effective/
Chris, what do you think about glutamine and glycine. Glutamine and glycine levels affect the activity of androgen receptors in the scalp.