HMGB1 promotes hair growth via the modulation of prostaglandin metabolism.

Sci Rep. 2019 Apr 30;9(1):6660. doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-43242-2.
HMGB1 promotes hair growth via the modulation of prostaglandin metabolism.
Hwang JH1, Chu H1, Ahn Y1, Kim J2, Kim DY3.

Unexpected hair growth can occur after tissue injury. The pathogenic mechanism for this phenomenon is unknown but is likely related to inflammatory mediators. One such mediator is high-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1), a ubiquitous nuclear protein that is released from cell nuclei after tissue damage. To elucidate the effect of HMGB1 on hair growth and understand its mechanism of action, we evaluated the effect of HMGB1 treatment on hair shaft elongation and on mRNA and protein expression in cultured human dermal papilla cells (hDPCs). HMGB1 enhanced hair shaft elongation in an ex vivo hair organ culture. In hDPCs, HMGB1 treatment significantly increased mRNA and protein expression levels of prostagladin E synthases. HMGB1 also stimulated prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) secretion from hDPCs. Finally, blocking the receptor for advanced glycation end-products, a canonical HMGB1 receptor, inhibited HMGB1-induced PGE2 production and hair shaft elongation. Our results suggest that HMGB1 promotes hair growth via PGE2 secretion from hDPCs. This mechanism can explain the paradoxical phenomenon of trauma-induced hair growth. Thus, HGMB1 can be a viable therapeutic target for the treatment of alopecia.

PMID: 31040377 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-43242-2

Full: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-019-43242-2

Hi Cs,in light of this new discovery could you recommend how often one could use a dermaroller to achieve these effects ? And what size needles would be best ?

Auriga wrote:Hi Cs,in light of this new discovery could you recommend how often one could use a dermaroller to achieve these effects ? And what size needles would be best ?

With the forum temporarily disappearing from view (some strange DNS switch), I missed a lot of activity here.

Because most people use needles for the face, which are quite small, those are not too useful, so for best penetration, a needle size of 1.5 mm is necessary.

I have no idea of the perfect/ideal size. So if anyone knows feel free to post. All I know is that 1.5 mm is needed to penetrate the scalp.

Hi there,

The forum appears to be working ok on my end.I cant say what might be causing that.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3746236/

In the linked study above we can see a 1.5 dermaroller was used once a week.But also along with minoxidol.The minoxidil use claims that it blocks potassium channels.Perhaps there is a better alternative,something natural that can be used for this effect without the side-effects that come with minoxidil use ?

I haven't had any notable regrowth using dermarollers but that is because I havent been using it consistently enough to see results.I am going to stick to a routine now for a year and I am not going to be using minoxidil.

I made a thread about my consultation with a hair surgeon and how he recommended using a 1,0mm needle everyday.He said growth factors will eventually build up in the scalp and will remodel follicles that are damaged.He also recommended taking finasteride which I decline on ever using.

I dont fancy dermarolling everyday,as it is not very pleasant and would be hard to stick with,so between dermarolling either every day with the 1.0mm or once a week with a 1,5mm (but without minoxidil) I am considering that twice a week with a 1.5mm might be a safe bet,a middle path so to speak.

people apply castor oil in lieu of minox

Auriga wrote:Hi there,

The forum appears to be working ok on my end.I cant say what might be causing that.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3746236/

In the linked study above we can see a 1.5 dermaroller was used once a week.But also along with minoxidol.The minoxidil use claims that it blocks potassium channels.Perhaps there is a better alternative,something natural that can be used for this effect without the side-effects that come with minoxidil use ?

I use Adenosine instead of Minoxidil. Safe and almost as effective, I am pleased with the combo of wounding and Adenosine. You could also try Lithium Chloride and Placenta Extract for WNT stimulation.

Both posts are the best evidence of naturals vs minoxidil so far from a topical perspective.