EFECTIVITY MINOXIDIL AS A TREATMENT OF ALOPECIA AREATA

Abstract

Alopecia areata is hair loss with patchy formation, the most common cause
of alopecia nonscarring. Occurred in 1,7 % of Americans aged 50 years. Can
occurs in both sexes, all races and any age. Genetic and immunological factors
play an important role as a cause of Alopecia areata. The clinical features
alopecia areata are round or oval lesions, total baldness, smoothness on the scalp
or other parts of the body that has hair. Minoxidil is one of the effective therapy
for Alopecia areata. Known for more than 30 years of minoxidil to stimulate hair
growth. Minoxidil works on hair follicles, opening the potassium channels, and
have vascular effects that can increase blood flow to hair. Histological studies
showed that minoxidil therapy may increase the proportion hair follicles in anagen
phase and decrease hair follicles at telogen phase. Minoxidil through sulphat
metabolites can open potassium channels, the opening potassium channels can
increase the hair follicles growth. The study of the effects minoxidil on human
epidermal keratinocytes and hair follicles with different culture conditions and
markers proliferation, found that minoxidil with micro molar concentration can
stimulate proliferation both type of cells and all culture condition, whereas
minoxidil with milimolar concentration will inhibit cell growth. In addition,
several studies have also reported an association minoxidil to vascular effect and
stimulating VEGF can promote the increase hair follicle