Open AccessTreatment-Refractory Central Centrifugal Cicatricial Alopecia Responsive to a Novel Botanical Treatment
Author(s) -
Sanusi Umar,
Petrina Kan,
Marissa J. Carter,
Paul Shitabata
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
clinical, cosmetic and investigational dermatology
Language(s) - Uncategorized
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.73
H-Index - 35
ISSN - 1178-7015
DOI - 10.2147/ccid.s358618
Subject(s) - cosmeceutical , medicine , adverse effect , nutraceutical , refractory (planetary science) , scalp , dermatology , pathology , biology , astrobiology
Central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia (CCCA) is the most common cause of scarring alopecia in women of African descent. However, current treatments for CCCA, such as immunosuppressants and immunomodulatory pharmaceutical agents, have suboptimal efficacy and undesirable side effects. This case series reports the therapeutic effect of a new botanical formulation (Dr. UGro Gashee) in four patients with histologically supported diagnoses of CCCA. The formulations contain at least three phytoactive ingredients that affect multiple targets in the cascade of pathophysiologic events contributing to CCCA. Possible mechanisms of action include anti-inflammatory effects, inhibiting proinflammatory cytokines, and the net antifibrotic effect of inhibiting transforming growth factor-beta while upregulating AMP-activated protein kinase and peroxisome proliferator-associated receptor-gamma activity.