Beyond Goosebumps: Does the Arrector Pili Muscle Have a Role in Hair Loss?

[sachalamp]

Beyond Goosebumps: Does the Arrector Pili Muscle Have a Role in Hair Loss? - PMC

The arrector pili muscle (APM) consists of a small band of smooth muscle that connects the hair follicle to the connective tissue of the basement membrane. The APM mediates thermoregulation by contracting to increase air-trapping, but was thought to ...

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Basically this research shows a link between smooth muscle and hair loss. It would make sense since minoxidil (nitric oxide) interacts with smooth muscles, providing relaxation.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7979390/ Minoxidil stimulates elastin expression in aortic smooth muscle cells

 

[coolio]

When it comes to the AP muscle, keep something in mind - hair transplants do work.

The AP connection gets severed when the graft is removed. The recipient location has often been slick-bald for years (AP muscles in the area are totally degraded.) And yet the transplanted follicle works in its new location. IIRC it even re-establishes an AP muscle connection eventually.

 

[pegasus2]

https://www.gourmetstylewellness.com/interact/threads/cell-types-promoting-goosebumps-form-a-niche-to-regulate-hair-follicle-stem-cells.129644/#post-1913187