Research
Philippe Boissard writes about the science of hair loss and dermatology, grounded in the primary clinical literature. His current research output is listed below.
Preprint (2026)
Mechanical stimulation of the scalp in androgenetic alopecia: a narrative review of massage, tension, and mechanotransduction
A narrative review of the science behind scalp massage, the galea-tension theory, and mechanical-stimulation devices in androgenetic alopecia. It covers the mechanotransduction pathways (Wnt, YAP/TAZ, and the Piezo1 channel) that connect mechanical force to the hair cycle, the clinical evidence for massage and devices, and where the marketing currently outpaces the data.
Boissard, P. (2026). Mechanical stimulation of the scalp in androgenetic alopecia: a narrative review of massage, tension, and mechanotransduction. Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.20809421
This is a research preprint (narrative review), openly available with a DOI. It has not undergone formal journal peer review.
Pharmacological inhibition of 5α-reductase in androgenetic alopecia: a comparative narrative review of finasteride and dutasteride, with attention to responder heterogeneity and female pattern hair loss
A narrative review comparing the two oral 5α-reductase inhibitors used for hair loss: how finasteride and dutasteride differ mechanistically, what the head-to-head trial evidence shows, the honest safety picture (including the post-finasteride syndrome debate), the genetic reasons some patients respond better than others, and the evidence in female pattern hair loss.
Boissard, P. (2026). Pharmacological inhibition of 5α-reductase in androgenetic alopecia: a comparative narrative review of finasteride and dutasteride, with attention to responder heterogeneity and female pattern hair loss. Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.20507736
This is a research preprint (narrative review), openly available with a DOI. It has not undergone formal journal peer review.