Follicle Question

[Dice_Has_Hair]

Okay, the dermal papillae resides "inside" the follicle correct? And that is where the 5 alpha reductase resides too, correct? And the receptors too, right? Okay........important question........If all this resides inside the follicle................do topical anti androgens or topical 5AR inhibitors actually go through or soak through the walls of the follicle and enter inside it and go to the major source? I sure as f*** hope so!! I think we all do :?

 

[VWdude]

I hope so too.

 

[Dice_Has_Hair]

I hope so too.

Well, there have been some people that are on like a anti androgen/5AR inhibitor (topical speaking here) and that is all they take..................and they are "maintaing their hair". So, based on assumption, it must go to the follicle, where needed that is.

 

[Bryan]

Okay, the dermal papillae resides "inside" the follicle correct?

It's the lowest part of the hair follicle, at its very base. Your question is much like asking, does the FOOT reside "inside" the human body?

And that is where the 5 alpha reductase resides too, correct?

See the following study: "5a-Reductase activity in the human hair follicle concentrates in the dermal papilla", Eicheler et al, Arch Dermatol Res (1998) 290: 126-132. However, that doesn't mean that there is NO 5a-reductase at all in other parts of the follicle, just that most of it is in the papilla. Here's a sentence from the abstract:

"The specific activity of 5a-reductase in the papillae exceeded those in the other hair follicle compartments by a factor of at least 14 in the scalp....and at least 80 in the beard."

And the receptors too, right?

It's probably the same with androgen receptors (I assume that's what you're referring to): most of them are probably in the papilla.

Okay........important question........If all this resides inside the follicle................do topical anti androgens or topical 5AR inhibitors actually go through or soak through the walls of the follicle and enter inside it and go to the major source? I sure as f*** hope so!! I think we all do :?

They evidently DO do that; otherwise, topical RU58841 wouldn't have worked so well in those stumptailed macaque studies.

Bryan

 

[Dice_Has_Hair]

Bryan, my main concern with this whole thing was are topical anti androgens and topical 5AR inhibitors "actually" capable of making contact with dermal papillae of the hair follicle - where the 5 AR type 2 enzyme resides that also adding the androgen receptors? Basically if the topicals don't make contact with these parts....................they are a waste of time. I guess since RU 58841 was doing a good job, then I guess it is possible.
Its a lot like this Bryan. Lets say you find a wild onion in your yard and pull it out of the ground. Hhhhmm......looks a lot what a hair follicle would look like doesn't it, because of the bulb at the bottom. Now, lets use this onion here for an example, picture this : Lets picture that the dermal papillae is "inside" this bulb, so actually you can't really see it. Now lets apply the topical (we'll use water) to it and expect the water to get inside this bulb............................?????????????????????
How??????? Unless the topical is gonna penetrate the surface of the bulb and reach the dermal papillae thats inside so it'll do the job........it won't work.
Now, from what you told me, that the dermal papillae is basically the foot of the follicle, then the dermal papillae is "exposed" at the bottom and the topical (water remember from the example) can easily get to it. It's not "encased" basically is what you are trying to tell me.
Okay, I see that it is possible now, so need to worry . Sorry about my misunderstanding about the anatomical structure of the follicle. Are there any good pics that you could show me that show the follicle structure? The ones I have seen are pretty shitty and unclear........obviously, LOL!!!!! Have a good one and thanks. :wink: