New Effects of Caffeine on Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone (CRH)-Induced Stress Along the Intrafollicular Classical Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) Axis (CRH-R1/2, IP3-R, ACTH, MC-R2) and the Neurogenic Non-HPA Axis (Substance P, p75NTR and TrkA) in Ex Vivo Human Male Androgenetic Scalp Hair Follicles

April 2020 in “ British Journal of Dermatology ”

Tobias W. Fischer, A. Bergmann, Nathalie Kruse, Konrad Kleszczyński, Cezary Skobowiat, Andrzej Słomiński, Ralf Paus

caffeine corticotropin-releasing hormone CRH androgenetic alopecia AGA substance P p75NTR TrkA MC-R2 hair follicles stress-induced hair loss

TLDR Caffeine may help reduce stress-induced hair loss.

The study conducted in 2020 involved 18 men aged between 25 and 44 years with androgenetic alopecia (AGA). It investigated the effects of caffeine on stress-induced pathways in human male androgenetic scalp hair follicles. The research found that corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) significantly upregulated stress-associated parameters, which were significantly downregulated by caffeine. Specifically, caffeine inhibited CRH-induced upregulation of substance P, a neuropeptide associated with stress and hair growth inhibition, and the activation of p75NTR and TrkA, receptors involved in hair growth regulation. Furthermore, caffeine enhanced the expression of MC-R2, a receptor involved in hair growth promotion. The findings suggest that caffeine may have potential therapeutic effects for stress-induced hair loss.

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