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Season 4: What Healthy Scalp Means and How Effects Develop

Inflammation, the Immune System & Hair Growth

Dr. Manfred Groeppel, Prof. Dr. Alexander Steinkasserer 28.05.2026 02:46

In summary

  • In androgenetic hair loss, DHT kills follicle cells, triggers an inflammatory response, and draws in more immune cells until the follicle gradually dies. 
  • In alopecia areata, the body's own immune cells attack the hair follicle directly with the same result: the follicle dies. 
  • Inflammatory responses are a shared mechanism in many hair disorders, one that existing products on the market do not address, but that soluble CD83 in the 8T3 Essentials Hair Serum specifically targets. 
  • Minoxidil requires an enzyme called sulfotransferase to activate, which around 25% of people do not have at all, and needs daily application; the 8T3 Essentials Hair Serum only needs to be applied twice a week.
FAQ

Inflammation, the Immune System & Hair Growth

How are inflammation, the immune system and hair growth connected?
In androgenetic hair loss, DHT kills hair follicle cells, which triggers an inflammatory response and draws in more immune cells that gradually destroy the follicle. In alopecia areata, the immune system attacks the follicle directly. In both cases, the result is the same: the follicle dies.
Why is basic scalp care often not enough for genetic hair loss?
An intact skin barrier and a balanced pH level are the foundation of a healthy scalp, but they cannot counteract the hormonal and genetic factors that actively work against hair growth in androgenetic hair loss. That is where targeted hair growth treatments come in.
Why do people respond differently to hair growth products?
The hormonal and genetic factors behind androgenetic hair loss vary between individuals, so the same treatment does not work equally well for everyone. Minoxidil makes this even more concrete: it requires an enzyme called sulfotransferase to activate, and around 25% of people simply do not have it. For them, Minoxidil cannot work regardless of how consistently they apply it.
What makes the 8T3 Essentials Hair Serum different from products like Minoxidil?
The 8T3 Essentials Hair Serum addresses inflammatory responses as a shared mechanism in many hair disorders, which existing products do not. It does not require enzyme activation, and it only needs to be applied twice a week rather than once or twice a day. That alone removes one of the main reasons people stop using hair growth treatments.

Description

Androgenetic hair loss and alopecia areata have different origins but the same endpoint: the hair follicle dies. 

In androgenetic hair loss, dihydrotestosterone (DHT) kills follicle cells, triggers an inflammatory response, and draws in additional immune cells. The follicle gradually dies. In alopecia areata, the immune system attacks the follicle directly. 

What many hair disorders share: inflammatory responses are a central mechanism. Existing products on the market do not address this. Soluble CD83 in the 8T3 Essentials Hair Serum targets exactly that point, which is why fewer individual differences in effectiveness are expected. 

Minoxidil for comparison: it is a prodrug that requires activation by an enzyme called sulfotransferase, which around 25% of people do not have. For them, Minoxidil cannot work at all. Add to that once or twice daily application, which causes many people to stop. The 8T3 Essentials Hair Serum only needs to be applied twice a week.

Experts

Dr. Manfred Groeppel
Dr. Manfred Groeppel
Prof. Dr. Alexander Steinkasserer
Prof. Dr. Alexander Steinkasserer
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