Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) are ligand activated transcription factors belonging to the nuclear hormone receptor superfamily.
PPARγ is involved in many different activities in the epidermis, such as keratinocyte differentiation, permeability barrier recovery, dermal wound closure, sebaceous gland formation, sebocyte differentiation, and melanogenesis.
Preclinical studies with PPARγ ligands on various skin diseases have been performed and they could represent a new strategy in the treatment of scarring alopecia.
PPARγ deserves further studies as therapeutic target, likely not with the current drugs, but with future new classes of safer molecules and in combined therapies.