Hair & Nails

A marine protein–based oral food supplement was safe and associated with significant hair growth in women with self-perceived thinning hair, according to findings from a small randomized controlled, double-blind study.

The mean number of terminal hairs in a 4 cm² area at the junction of the frontal and lateral hairlines was measured. In 10 women randomized to receive the supplement, terminal hairs increased from 271 at baseline to 571 after 90 days of treatment and 610 after 180 days of treatment. The mean number of terminal hairs in five women randomized to receive placebo was 256 at baseline, 245 after 90 days, and 242 after 180 days, Dr. Glynis Ablon reported in a poster at the annual meeting of the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery.

The mean number of vellus hairs in the treatment group was 46.5 at baseline and did not appreciably change over 180 days; the mean number of vellus hairs in the placebo group was 57 at baseline, 68 at 90 days, and 66 at 180 days, said Dr. Ablon, a Manhattan Beach, Calif.–based dermatologist.

Treated subjects were significantly more likely to report improvements in overall hair volume, scalp coverage, and hair body thickness after 90 days. Improved hair shine, skin moisture retention, and skin smoothness were reported after 180 days, she noted.

Study participants were women aged 21-75 years (mean age, 50 in the treatment group and 48 in the control group) with Fitzpatrick I-IV skin types. All were in generally good health but had perceived hair thinning. All study participants agreed to maintain their baseline diet, medications, and exercise level during the study period, and to maintain consistent hair care throughout the study period.

Treatment group subjects were instructed to take one tablet of the proprietary supplement (Viviscal) each morning and evening with water after a meal.

The study was supported by Lifes2good Inc., the maker of Viviscal. Dr. Ablon received a research grant from Lifes2good.

A marine protein–based oral food supplement was safe and associated with significant hair growth in women with self-perceived thinning hair, according to findings from a small randomized controlled, double-blind study.

The mean number of terminal hairs in a 4 cm² area at the junction of the frontal and lateral hairlines was measured. In 10 women randomized to receive the supplement, terminal hairs increased from 271 at baseline to 571 after 90 days of treatment and 610 after 180 days of treatment. The mean number of terminal hairs in five women randomized to receive placebo was 256 at baseline, 245 after 90 days, and 242 after 180 days, Dr. Glynis Ablon reported in a poster at the annual meeting of the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery.

The mean number of vellus hairs in the treatment group was 46.5 at baseline and did not appreciably change over 180 days; the mean number of vellus hairs in the placebo group was 57 at baseline, 68 at 90 days, and 66 at 180 days, said Dr. Ablon, a Manhattan Beach, Calif.–based dermatologist.

Treated subjects were significantly more likely to report improvements in overall hair volume, scalp coverage, and hair body thickness after 90 days. Improved hair shine, skin moisture retention, and skin smoothness were reported after 180 days, she noted.

Study participants were women aged 21-75 years (mean age, 50 in the treatment group and 48 in the control group) with Fitzpatrick I-IV skin types. All were in generally good health but had perceived hair thinning. All study participants agreed to maintain their baseline diet, medications, and exercise level during the study period, and to maintain consistent hair care throughout the study period.

Treatment group subjects were instructed to take one tablet of the proprietary supplement (Viviscal) each morning and evening with water after a meal.

The study was supported by Lifes2good Inc., the maker of Viviscal. Dr. Ablon received a research grant from Lifes2good.

A marine protein–based oral food supplement was safe and associated with significant hair growth in women with self-perceived thinning hair, according to findings from a small randomized controlled, double-blind study.

The mean number of terminal hairs in a 4 cm² area at the junction of the frontal and lateral hairlines was measured. In 10 women randomized to receive the supplement, terminal hairs increased from 271 at baseline to 571 after 90 days of treatment and 610 after 180 days of treatment. The mean number of terminal hairs in five women randomized to receive placebo was 256 at baseline, 245 after 90 days, and 242 after 180 days, Dr. Glynis Ablon reported in a poster at the annual meeting of the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery.

The mean number of vellus hairs in the treatment group was 46.5 at baseline and did not appreciably change over 180 days; the mean number of vellus hairs in the placebo group was 57 at baseline, 68 at 90 days, and 66 at 180 days, said Dr. Ablon, a Manhattan Beach, Calif.–based dermatologist.

Treated subjects were significantly more likely to report improvements in overall hair volume, scalp coverage, and hair body thickness after 90 days. Improved hair shine, skin moisture retention, and skin smoothness were reported after 180 days, she noted.

Study participants were women aged 21-75 years (mean age, 50 in the treatment group and 48 in the control group) with Fitzpatrick I-IV skin types. All were in generally good health but had perceived hair thinning. All study participants agreed to maintain their baseline diet, medications, and exercise level during the study period, and to maintain consistent hair care throughout the study period.

Treatment group subjects were instructed to take one tablet of the proprietary supplement (Viviscal) each morning and evening with water after a meal.

The study was supported by Lifes2good Inc., the maker of Viviscal. Dr. Ablon received a research grant from Lifes2good.

When it comes to androgenetic alopecia, female pattern hair loss, and alopecia areata, the role of molecular genetic testing remains limited, but that’s not to say it won’t play a major role in the future, noted Dr. Pedram Yazdan.

In fact, molecular genetic testing will likely play a prominent role with respect to prediction and diagnosis of hair loss, disease severity, and expected response to therapy, he noted.

Genetic factors appear to play a significant role in hair-loss pathogenesis, but the remarkable advances in genomic discovery and molecular diagnostic testing seen in other areas of medicine haven’t quite made their way to this indication (Sem. Cut. Med. Surg. 2012;31:259-67).

"The current gold standard in diagnosis of these alopecias is by clinical history, examination, and, when necessary, scalp biopsy for histopathologic evaluation," wrote Dr. Yazdan of the department of dermatology at Northwestern University, Chicago.

An important role for molecular diagnostics likely lies in the small number of cases in which the diagnosis cannot be ascertained by the existing modalities – cases in which the clinical and histopathologic features of the condition are ambiguous and thus make a definitive diagnosis difficult, Dr. Yazdan noted.

Another role may relate to predicting the course and severity of hair loss, which is currently difficult to accomplish as "there are no reliable and validated clinical or histologic features that can provide patients with prognostic information," he wrote.

"It is conceivable that once the underlying genetic risk profiles of these forms of hair loss are more fully established, this information can potentially be used to aid in more definitively elucidating pathogenesis of the hair loss," which in turn, would aid in the development of diagnostic testing, he noted.

Molecular diagnostic testing for alopecia would also allow for risk stratification in terms of development and severity, and, importantly, would advance the field of pharmacogenetics for alopecia. Currently, treatment options are limited in both number and effectiveness.

Dr. Yazdan described a future in which both therapeutic and targeted preventive therapies, coupled with testing to determine treatment response potential, will allow for personalized treatment of these common and complex conditions, which cause patients substantial anxiety.

He reported having no conflicts of interest.

When it comes to androgenetic alopecia, female pattern hair loss, and alopecia areata, the role of molecular genetic testing remains limited, but that’s not to say it won’t play a major role in the future, noted Dr. Pedram Yazdan.

In fact, molecular genetic testing will likely play a prominent role with respect to prediction and diagnosis of hair loss, disease severity, and expected response to therapy, he noted.

Genetic factors appear to play a significant role in hair-loss pathogenesis, but the remarkable advances in genomic discovery and molecular diagnostic testing seen in other areas of medicine haven’t quite made their way to this indication (Sem. Cut. Med. Surg. 2012;31:259-67).

"The current gold standard in diagnosis of these alopecias is by clinical history, examination, and, when necessary, scalp biopsy for histopathologic evaluation," wrote Dr. Yazdan of the department of dermatology at Northwestern University, Chicago.

An important role for molecular diagnostics likely lies in the small number of cases in which the diagnosis cannot be ascertained by the existing modalities – cases in which the clinical and histopathologic features of the condition are ambiguous and thus make a definitive diagnosis difficult, Dr. Yazdan noted.

Another role may relate to predicting the course and severity of hair loss, which is currently difficult to accomplish as "there are no reliable and validated clinical or histologic features that can provide patients with prognostic information," he wrote.

"It is conceivable that once the underlying genetic risk profiles of these forms of hair loss are more fully established, this information can potentially be used to aid in more definitively elucidating pathogenesis of the hair loss," which in turn, would aid in the development of diagnostic testing, he noted.

Molecular diagnostic testing for alopecia would also allow for risk stratification in terms of development and severity, and, importantly, would advance the field of pharmacogenetics for alopecia. Currently, treatment options are limited in both number and effectiveness.

Dr. Yazdan described a future in which both therapeutic and targeted preventive therapies, coupled with testing to determine treatment response potential, will allow for personalized treatment of these common and complex conditions, which cause patients substantial anxiety.

He reported having no conflicts of interest.

When it comes to androgenetic alopecia, female pattern hair loss, and alopecia areata, the role of molecular genetic testing remains limited, but that’s not to say it won’t play a major role in the future, noted Dr. Pedram Yazdan.

In fact, molecular genetic testing will likely play a prominent role with respect to prediction and diagnosis of hair loss, disease severity, and expected response to therapy, he noted.

Genetic factors appear to play a significant role in hair-loss pathogenesis, but the remarkable advances in genomic discovery and molecular diagnostic testing seen in other areas of medicine haven’t quite made their way to this indication (Sem. Cut. Med. Surg. 2012;31:259-67).

"The current gold standard in diagnosis of these alopecias is by clinical history, examination, and, when necessary, scalp biopsy for histopathologic evaluation," wrote Dr. Yazdan of the department of dermatology at Northwestern University, Chicago.

An important role for molecular diagnostics likely lies in the small number of cases in which the diagnosis cannot be ascertained by the existing modalities – cases in which the clinical and histopathologic features of the condition are ambiguous and thus make a definitive diagnosis difficult, Dr. Yazdan noted.

Another role may relate to predicting the course and severity of hair loss, which is currently difficult to accomplish as "there are no reliable and validated clinical or histologic features that can provide patients with prognostic information," he wrote.

"It is conceivable that once the underlying genetic risk profiles of these forms of hair loss are more fully established, this information can potentially be used to aid in more definitively elucidating pathogenesis of the hair loss," which in turn, would aid in the development of diagnostic testing, he noted.

Molecular diagnostic testing for alopecia would also allow for risk stratification in terms of development and severity, and, importantly, would advance the field of pharmacogenetics for alopecia. Currently, treatment options are limited in both number and effectiveness.

Dr. Yazdan described a future in which both therapeutic and targeted preventive therapies, coupled with testing to determine treatment response potential, will allow for personalized treatment of these common and complex conditions, which cause patients substantial anxiety.

He reported having no conflicts of interest.