Lipids to the top of hair biology.

Little attention has been given to the impact of lipid metabolism on hair follicle biology and pathology. Three recent papers (one in the current issue) describe a major effect of altered lipid metabolism on hair growth. A direct link was made to at least one form of cicatricial alopecia, but the role lipids play in other follicular pathologies, such as the acneiform conditions, are inadequately explored and must be tested.