Sebaceous Gland Atrophy in Psoriasis: An Explanation for Psoriatic Alopecia?

The study investigated the link between sebaceous gland (SG) atrophy and hair loss in psoriasis, involving 6 individuals. Researchers found a 91% reduction in SG volume in psoriatic lesions compared to non-lesional skin, suggesting SG atrophy might contribute to hair loss. Despite elongated hair follicles in psoriatic skin, hair loss was not primarily due to scarring, as hair regrowth often occurred after lesion resolution. The study identified downregulation of lipid biosynthesis genes in psoriatic skin and suggested that inflammatory cytokines like IL-1 and TNF could inhibit hair growth, linking inflammation to SG dysfunction and hair loss. The findings indicated that SG atrophy and inflammation might play roles in psoriatic alopecia.