Silencing the androgen receptor: New skills for antiandrogen oligonucleotide skin and hair therapy

Abstract

Hair growth and follicular cycle are regulated predominantly through androgens under complex genetic and hormonal control. Human hair growth occurs in cycles of three phases, anagen (continuous growth), catagen (cessation of growth) and telogen (resting phase). In genetically susceptible subjects, hair follicles in vertex and frontal regions of the scalp respond to androgens by reducing length of the anagen phase and regression of the follicles producing weaker and thinner hairs. More than 50% of men by the age of 50 years and women over 60 years suffer from androgenetic alopecia. Keywords: Antiandrogen oligonucleotides, Skin and hair, Cutaneous therapy