Journal of Cosmetology & Trichology

Background and objective: Consumers following the Natural hair movement want to style their hair without thermal damage concerns. When women used a hotter styler, their hair could not revert back to its natural pattern after wetting and they expressed anxiety about heat damage. This study supports these observations using objective measurements of reversion and damage after heat treatment.
Methods: Curly tresses were straightened fifty times at 185°C or 220°C. Reversion was compared between treatments and to natural variation after immersion in water. The damage was explored using differential scanning calorimetry and tensile testing.
Results: The treatment at 220°C causes a significant shift to less curly types indicating that the fibres were unable to revert back to their original curl pattern. The DSC and tensile results suggest that the cortex structure has been damaged and the fibres have become less stiff and break more easily after the treatment at 220°C but not at 185°C.
Conclusions: The structural damage at 220°C suggests that the shape memory effect cannot be triggered adequately by the presence of water and the fibres cannot return to their natural curl state.

Folliculitis decalvans (FD) is a neutrophilic scarring alopecia with peripheral spreading alopecic patches with pustules, crusting and tufted hair. Frontal fibrosing alopecia (FFA) is a lymphocyte-mediated primary cicatricial alopecia that affects frontal hairline and eyebrows. We report a 27-year-old black male presenting scarring alopecia with symmetrical retreat of the frontal and temporal borders of the hair implantation and eyebrow thinning. Skin biopsy revealed compact orthokeratosis, corneal plugs, regular acanthosis, superficial and deep perivascular and periadnexal inflammatory infiltrate, that was compatible with FD. We present a case of FD with retreat of hair line implantation and thinning of the eyebrows, as it is seen in FFA.

Background: The problem of alopecia affects both sexes at all ages with sometimes significant psychological sequelae. Along with androgenetic alopecia, there are forms of alopecia of various origin as traumatic, surgical, pharmacological and others. In 1993 the first biocompatible fibers (Biofibre®) were developed in Italy by Medicap company.
Aim: Automatic Biofibre® hair implant is a soft surgery technique which is performed under local anesthesia, that enables an immediate aesthetic result without pain, scars or hospitalization.
Methods: Biofibre® hair are similar to natural hair and they are available in 13 colors, that can be washed and dried with moderate heat, but cannot be bleached. The fibers are 15 cm long, until 45 cm. Besides straight fibers, there are also tight curl, soft curl and wave. Since the last years it is also available the MHD® hair variant that allows to use 3 hairs with the same graft. Automatic Biofibre® hair implant device allows to implant until 800 Biofibre® hair per hour reducing scalp trauma.
Results: This modern technique of hair restoration is indicated to treat diffuse hair loss or hair thinning, both for men and for women. Conditions for success are: suitable patient with healthy scalp, qualified physician, respect of implant protocol and after care application, correct identification and therapy of possible skin reactions.
Conclusions: Nowadays automatic Biofibre® hair implant is a valid surgical technique and can be also used alone or in combination with FUE to provide good final results.

Objective: The causes of hair loss are multifactorial; therefore, there are multiple potential targets for treatment, and a combination of different active ingredients can be helpful in managing the condition. Androgenetic alopecia and telogen effluvium comprise two of the main types of hair loss, and differ in their pathophysiology. The objective of the study was to evaluate, in male and female individuals with androgenetic alopecia and telogen effluvium, the safety and efficacy of a new hair loss lotion containing a combination of cosmetic ingredients: oleanolic acid, apigenin, biotinyl tripeptide-1, 2-4diamino pyrimidine-3-oxide, adenosine, Ginkgo biloba, and biotin.
Methods: 56 patients with androgenetic alopecia (AGA) or telogen effluvium (TE) completed the study. For 6 months, the product was applied once-daily before bed and left on overnight. Efficacy and safety assessments took place at baseline, 3 months and 6 months. Efficacy was assessed in three ways: phototrichogram to count the total number of hairs and number and of hairs in telogen and anagen, visual clinical assessment by a dermatologist using a 7 point scale that evaluated hair volume/thickness, scalp coverage and overall hair appearance, and patient opinion questionnaire on the effects and additional qualities of the product.
Results: In the whole study sample, the total number of hairs and number of anagen hairs increased significantly (p<0.05). In the subgroup with TE, there was a significant increase in total hairs, and in the AGA subgroup there was a significant increase in total hairs and anagen hairs. On visual clinical assessment, 35.7% of participants were evaluated as having thicker, more voluminous hair, 37.5% had improved general hair appearance and 39.3% had improved scalp coverage. On patient questionnaire, participants reported a reduction in hair loss (79%), increased confidence regarding their hair (86%) and that their hair problem was less visible (79%). The product was rated positively by 100% of participants for texture, smell, and hair condition. There were no adverse events.
Conclusion: This lotion enriched with a mixture of oleanolic acid, apigenin, biotinyl tripeptide-1, 2-4 diamino pyrimidine-3-oxide, adenosine, Ginkgo biloba, and biotin is safe and effective as a topical hair-loss treatment, as proven by the statistically significant increase in total hair fibers and anagen hairs, the increased thickness and scalp coverage on dermatological assessment, and patient self-assessment.