Hair Removal Photodynamic Therapy
Photodynamic Basic Facts
An experimental method combining chemicals and radiation to induce controlled hair loss or reduction.
Photodynamic Description
- A chemical is administered which selectively pigments a follicle's regenerative structures.
- Laser or other radiation selectively targets the darkened cells while sparing surrounding tissue.
Photodynamic Advantages
Theoretically could target any hair color.
Photodynamic Disadvantages
Photodynamic Quack Claims
None at this time.
Photodynamic Background
Hair growth cells and cancer cells share some interesting characteristics: rapidly dividing with multiple potentials for differentiation. This is part of the reason many combinations of chemotherapy and radiation result in hair loss: they disrupt the same kinds of cellular activity.It has been theorized that combinations of these drugs and radiation may be used to induce a controlled amount of hair loss or reduction.
Photodynamic History
Photodynamic therapy (PDT) has been useful in treating some types of cancers. Certain chemicals have been observed to darken some types of skin cells, which can then be selectively targeted by laser to induce apoptosis or "programmed cell death." Recent data suggests PDT may have uses in the treatment of acne as well.
In addition, the presence or absence of certain genetic markers in mice such as p53 have been observed to be "on-off" switches for chemical/radiation induced hair loss. [8] Learning to manipulate genetic markers like these in conjunction with chemicals and/or radiation may lead to new hair reduction treatments.