JDD in the News: Pandemic-Related Hair Loss, and Hair and Collagen Supplements
By Allison Sit
The Journal of Drugs in Dermatology is featured in the recent article, “Your Hair Is Also Experiencing Pandemic-Related Stress. Here’s What to Do,” by WSJ Magazine. In the article, dermatologist Dr. Corey L. Hartman says he’s seen a 25 percent increase in consultations regarding the hair since the start of the pandemic. He credits the increase to telogen effluvium from extreme stress.
The article cites the 2016 JDD study, “Stress and the Hair Growth Cycle: Cortisol-Induced Hair Growth Disruption,” by Erling Thom, PhD, which found that when cortisol is present at high levels it can reduce the synthesis and accelerate degradation of hyaluronan and proteoglycans, which, in turn, disrupts the hair follicle and leads to the development of hair growth disorders.
The Dermatology Digest’s March issue includes an article, “The Three Most High-Impact Cosmetic Innovations,” which mentions a JDD study. In the article, dermatologist Dr. Glynis Ablon notes hair supplements as a top innovation in cosmetic dermatology.
In the article, Dr. Ablon mentions her research on the subject, including the 2018 JDD study, “A Six-Month, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study Evaluating the Safety and Efficacy of a Nutraceutical Supplement for Promoting Hair Growth in Women With Self-Perceived Thinning Hair.” The study found that the oral supplement safely and effectively promoted hair growth in women with self-perceived thinning hair. Dr. Ablon and her co-author wrote of the supplement, “It provides a multi-targeted therapeutic approach to hair loss by addressing micro-inflammation, stress, and oxidative damage with clinically tested, standardized, and bio-optimized phytoactive ingredients.”
Inside Hook notes a JDD study in its article, “Everybody’s Eating Collagen, But Is It Another Wellness Hoax?” The author asks if science shows these supplements boost the body’s natural production of collagen and hyaluronic acid with measurable skin health benefits.
The article cites the 2019 JDD review, “Oral Collagen Supplementation: A Systematic Review of Dermatological Applications,” by researchers including dermatologists Drs. Margit Juhasz and Natasha Mesinkovska. In the review of 11 studies, the authors found that, while preliminary results are promising for short and long-term use of oral collagen supplements, further studies are needed to determine medical use in skin barrier diseases as well as an optimal dose.
