Isolation and Quantification of Glycosaminoglycans from Human Hair Shaft

BackgroundThere is evidence that glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) are present in the hair shaft within the follicle but there are no studies regarding GAGs isolation and measurement in the human hair shaft over the scalp surface, it means, in the free hair shaft.ObjectiveThe purpose of our research was to isolate and measure the total GAGs from human free hair shaft.MethodsSeventy-five healthy individuals participated in the study, 58 adults, men and women over the age of 50 and 17 children (aged 4~9). GAGs in hair samples, received from the parietal and the occipital areas, were isolated with 4 M guanidine HCl and measured by the uronic acid-carbazole reaction assay.ResultsGAGs concentration was significantly higher in the occipital area than in the parietal area, in all study groups. GAG levels from both areas were significantly higher in children than in adults. GAG levels were not associated with gender, hair color or type.ConclusionWe report the presence of GAGs in the human free hair shaft and the correlation of hair GAG levels with the scalp area and participants'' age.     

Claves diagnósticas en displasias pilosas II

Hair shaft disorders, involving dysplastic abnormalities in the shaft, may be caused by genetic mutations or acquired through environmental exposures. The second part of this review presents these disorders classified according to the degree of hair fragility. It is important to take a thorough medical history and examine the hair to detect changes in texture, density, quality, and whether fragility is observed or not. Trichoscopy is a useful, noninvasive tool that can suggest a diagnosis in most cases. Specific treatments for hair shaft disorders are not available at present. We recommend general care practices to prevent hair damage; examples are avoiding excessive brushing, chemical products, hairstyles that introduce tension, and exposure to excessive heat. Some hair shaft disorders improve with puberty. Others may respond to treatments such as topical applications of minoxidil.     

The Pattern of Hair Dyeing in Koreans with Gray Hair

Background

Hair graying is considered as a part of normal ageing process. Nonetheless, this process raises a significant cosmetic concern, especially among ethnic Korean elderly whose baseline hair color is black. For this reason, Korean elderly dye their hair with frequency despite the risk of dermatologic problems such as allergic contact dermatitis.

Objective

In this study, the authors investigate the prevalence and pattern of hair dyeing and its relation with scalp diseases in Korea.

Methods

Six hundred twenty subjects (330 men and 290 women) with graying hair were given a questionnaire survery and underwent a physical examination.

Results

Of the 620 total, 272 subjects (43.9%) dyed their hair. Hair dyeing was significantly more frequent among women than among men (p<0.001). Subjects from 50 to 69 years of age showed higher prevalence of hair dyeing when compared to either younger or older groups. Subjective self-assessment of the extent of hair graying was associated with increased prevalence of hair dyeing, that is, individuals who feel graying has advanced by more than 20% of the overall hair were much more likely to dye their hair (p<0.001). Hair dyeing did not correlate with either alopecia or scalp disease.

Conclusion

Our survey has found that the prevalence of hair dyeing is higher among Korean women than men. People in their fifties and sixties and people with more than 20% extent of grayness were more likely to dye their hair than otherwise. Hair dyeing was not associated with any increase in the prevalence of scalp diseases.     

[Translated article] Keys to the Diagnosis of Hair Shaft Disorders: Part II

Hair shaft disorders, involving dysplastic abnormalities in the shaft, may be caused by genetic mutations or acquired through environmental exposures. The second part of this review presents these disorders classified according to the degree of hair fragility. It is important to take a thorough medical history and examine the hair to detect changes in texture, density, quality, and whether fragility is observed or not. Trichoscopy is a useful, noninvasive tool that can suggest a diagnosis in most cases. Specific treatments for hair shaft disorders are not available at present. We recommend general care practices to prevent hair damage; examples are avoiding excessive brushing, chemical products, hairstyles that introduce tension, and exposure to excessive heat. Some hair shaft disorders improve with puberty. Others may respond to treatments such as topical applications of minoxidil.     

Cosméticos capilares: tintes

Hair plays a significant role in body image, and its appearance can be changed relatively easily without resort to surgical procedures. Cosmetics and techniques have therefore been used to change hair appearance since time immemorial. The cosmetics industry has developed efficient products that can be used on healthy hair or act on concomitant diseases of the hair and scalp.Dyes embellish the hair by bleaching or coloring it briefly, for temporary periods of longer duration, or permanently, depending on the composition of a dye (oxidative or nonoxidative) and its degree of penetration of the hair shaft. The dermatologist's knowledge of dyes, their use, and their possible side effects (contact eczema, cancer, increased porosity, brittleness) can extend to an understanding of cosmetic resources that also treat hair and scalp conditions.     

毛干异常

毛发发育不良可分为先天性和获得性,经常累及毛干。外胚层发育不良、某些代谢性疾病、神经系统疾病、精神疾病中可以发现毛干的改变,外源性的物理、化学性刺激也会引起毛干的变化。毛干的异常表现为毛发颜色、密度、结构和长度的改变。毛干疾病的正确诊断不仅需要系统的病史和体检,光镜、扫描电镜和生化检查也很重要。     

T-oligos as differential modulators of human scalp hair growth and pigmentation: a new “time lapse system” for studying human skin and hair follicle biology in vitro?

Small DNA oligonucleotides homologous to the 3′ overhang of human telomeres, called T-oligos, stimulate pigmentation in human epidermal melanocytes in vitro and in vivo. They induce UV-mimetic effects in the absence of DNA-damage, however, it is unknown how T-oligos affect human hair follicle keratinocyte and melanocyte functions in situ. Here, we present the first evidence that these oligonucleotides are powerful modulators of pigmentation and growth of microdissected, organ-cultured human scalp hair follicles. Hair follicles were incubated with T-oligo or vehicle control and were then assessed for changes in hair shaft length, follicle morphology, pigmentation, proliferation and apoptosis. After only 48 h, T-oligos induced a fourfold increase in pigmentation of human anagen VI hair bulbs, while hair matrix keratinocyte proliferation was reduced by 65%, without apparent changes in hair bulb cell apoptosis. This corresponded well with a significant inhibition of hair shaft elongation, which was not accompanied by premature catagen induction in anagen VI hair follicles. These diametrically opposed effects of T-oligos on human hair follicle melanocytes (stimulation of melanogenesis) versus human hair bulb keratinocytes (inhibition of proliferation) in situ illustrate that human hair follicle organ culture offers an excellent tool for T-oligo research. They suggest that T-oligos deserve to be further explored for the management of clinical hair growth and pigmentation disorders, and raise the possibility that this model may offer a unique “time lapse system” for studying skin and hair follicle biology and DNA repair strategies under physiologically relevant conditions.     

Topical Products for Human Hair Regeneration: A Comparative Study on an Animal Model

BackgroundHair loss and hair growth is the subject of tremendous amount of research.ObjectiveThis study investigated the efficacy of three chemical treatments used in humans for hair loss, using a rat model of hair regrowth. The products tested were 2% minoxidil, Hairgrow (Dar-Al-Dawa Pharma), Aminexil, Dercos (Vichy Laboratoires), and Kerium, Anti-chute (La Roche-Posay).MethodsThirty-two adult female Wistar-Bratislava rats were assigned to 4 groups. Two rectangular areas (2×4 cm) were shaved on either sides of the mid dorsal line (left side - control; right side - test area). Group I was treated topically with 2% minoxidil, group II with Aminexil, and group III with Kerium. Each rat received 0.3 ml of substance applied topically to the shaved dorsal skin every day for 28 days. Rats in group IV served as sham controls receiving no treatment. Hair regrowth was evaluated by trichoscopy (with a dermatoscope), grown hair weight (from a surface area of 1 cm²), and histopathological examination for skin thickness, follicle count, and percentage of anagen induction (morphometric assessment).ResultsTreatment with 2% minoxidil significantly induced hair regrowth as assessed by trichoscopy, hair weight examination, and morphometric evaluation. Hair weight examination and morphometric assessment demonstrated the lowest hair growth effect with Aminexil among the tested products. Treatment with Kerium was found to significantly induce hair regrowth (p<0.05 as compared to the control group).ConclusionOur study demonstrates that hair regrowth efficacy of products recommended for human use is not similar when tested on an animal model.     

Prospective histologic examinations in patients who practice traumatic hairstyling

Objectives Alopecia is the fifth most common dermatologic diagnosis in African‐American patients. Central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia (CCCA) is the most common form of scarring alopecia in this group. This study sought to evaluate clinical and histologic findings in patients without clinical alopecia who use chemical and/or thermal straighteners to determine whether follicular damage is evidenced histologically. Methods Eight African‐American women with no clinical evidence of alopecia or scalp inflammation were included in the study. All participants had engaged in some form of traumatic hair care within the previous month. Participants submitted to clinical photography and 4‐mm punch biopsy. Histologic examination was performed and the characteristics of each case recorded. Results There were no clinical signs of alopecia or inflammation in any patient. Histopathology showed peri‐infundibular lymphocytic inflammation in all patients and mild superficial perivascular lymphocytic inflammation in three. Concentric infundibular fibrosis was observed in each hair follicle in all specimens. One sample showed additional focal peri‐isthmus fibrosis. There was no evidence of complete follicular dropout, follicular epithelial thinning, or premature desquamation of inner root sheaths. The mean number of hair follicles was 4.88 per 4‐mm punch. Hair cycling was consistently within normal ranges. Conclusions Biopsy findings characteristic of CCCA suggest that a clinical prelude exists histologically. Further follow‐up may provide a longitudinal timeframe for the potential progression, halting, or reversal of disease if hairstyling practices are, respectively, continued or discontinued. Central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia is likely to represent a common pathway of inflammation and scarring that can be instigated by traumatic hairstyling practices in genetically predisposed subjects.     

不同年龄成人头发的变化

目的 观察不同年龄成人头发的变化,探讨反映人老化的参照指标.方法 根据入选标准和排除标准征集志愿者,并依据年龄分为4组.头顶指定区域拍照后利用图像分析软件检测头发密度以及黑发率.该区域内随机拔取10根头发,利用目镜测微尺测量发干直径和毛球直径.同时,根据毛囊形态计算不同生长时期毛囊率.结果 共有96名志愿者加入本研究,男44例,女52例,年龄30~78岁.头顶头发密度、毛干直径、毛球直径、生长期毛囊率和黑发率随着年龄的增加逐渐减小,休止期毛囊率及白发率增多,并且60岁以上组明显减小,与其他3个年龄组差异有统计学意义,各组内部分指标存在性别差异.相关分析发现,毛干直径与毛球直径呈显著正相关.结论 头发的一些变化可能作为评价人老化程度的参照指标.     

毛发老化及处理

毛发老化包括毛干风化和毛囊老化,后者表现为黑素细胞功能降低或毛发灰化、雄激素源性脱发和衰老性秃发.头皮受内在(生理性老化)以及外界因素(吸烟及紫外线辐射等)的影响.实验表明,在毛发和皮肤老化中,氧化应激发挥重要作用.目前用于治疗雄激素源性脱发的方法有:米诺地尔局部外用,口服非那雄胺和自体头发移植.在无法逆转头发变灰的情况下,着色剂是恢复头发颜色的主要方法.     

A Case of Trichorrhexis Nodosa Developed in Winter

A young Japanese man developed localized trichorrhexis nodosa (LTN) of the scalp hair in the winter season. To investigate the roles of shampoo, severe sunlight exposure and/or mechanical injuries, we performed the following studies. Hair was collected from the patient and from a control. The study was performed in two steps. In the first step, hair was put into shampoo, rinsed with saline water, and then exposed to ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation once a day for one week. In the second step, the hair was similarly treated, but each shaft was bent gently with forceps before UVB exposure. Scanning electron microscopic studies revealed cuticular changes when the hair was treated only with shampoo and UVB. When it was treated with shampoo, UVB, and mechanical bending, the patient's hair developed longitudinal and transverse fractures of the hair shafts, while the control hair showed only partial damage to the hair shaft. On the basis on the above findings, we conclude that mechanical bending may damage the hair shaft.     

Organ culture of human scalp hair follicles: effect of testosterone and oestrogen on hair growth

Summary Whole human scalp hair follicles were cultured. The follicles were dissected from skin pieces of normal scalp and put into 1.5 ml of incubation medium in a closed 5 ml glass tube under an atmosphere of 95% O₂ and 5% CO₂. The tube was rolled at 15 rpm at 36C. Remarkable hair growth was noticed for 7 to 8 days. Hair root sheaths also grew with the hair shafts. The structure of the hair bulbs was well maintained for at least 6 days, and then the hair matrix cells started to degenerate. Fetal calf serum was not essential for hair growth in vitro, but increased the growth rate slowly. Testosterone and oestrogen inhibited hair growth in vitro to a similar extent. The minimum effective doses of both hormones to suppress hair growth were around 5 ng/ml, which corresponds well to the normal plasma level of testosterone in adult males in vivo, suggesting that scalp hair growth may be critically controlled by testosterone in adult males.     

Human hair growth ex vivo is correlated with in vivo hair growth: selective categorization of hair follicles for more reliable hair follicle organ culture

Of the numerous assays used to assess hair growth, hair follicle organ culture model is one of the most popular and powerful in vitro systems. Changes in hair growth are commonly employed as a measurement of follicular activity. Hair cycle stage of mouse vibrissa follicles in vivo is known to determine subsequent hair growth and follicle behavior in vitro and it is recommended that follicles be taken at precisely the same cyclic stage. This study was performed to evaluate whether categorization of human hair follicles by the growth in vivo could be used to select follicles of the defined anagen stage for more consistent culture. Occipital scalp samples were obtained from three subjects, 2 weeks later after hair bleaching. Hair growth and follicle length of isolated anagen VI follicles were measured under a videomicroscope. Follicles were categorized into four groups according to hair growth and some were cultured ex vivo for 6 days. Follicles showed considerable variations with respect to hair growth and follicle length; however, these two variables were relatively well correlated. Hair growth in culture was closely related with hair growth rate in vivo. Moreover, minoxidil uniquely demonstrated a significant increase of hair growth in categorized hair follicles assumed at a similar early anagen VI stage of hair cycle. Selection of follicles at a defined stage based on hair-growth rate would permit a more reliable outcome in human hair follicle organ culture.Oh Sang Kwon and Jun Kyu Oh contributed equally.     

Reduction of regrowing hair shaft size and pigmentation after ruby and diode laser treatment

Laser pulses which selectively damage pigmented hair follicles are a useful treatment for hypertrichosis. Clinically, regrowing hairs are often thinner and lighter after treatment. In this study, hair shaft diameter and optical transmission (700 nm) were measured before and after ruby (694 nm) and diode (800 nm) laser irradiation. Hair was collected from 47 and 41 subjects treated with ruby (0.3 ms and 3 ms) and diode (10-20 ms) lasers, respectively. "Responders" were defined as subjects with significant long-term hair loss as determined by hair counts at 9 and/or 12 months after treatment. In ruby laser responders (34/47), regrowing hairs were significantly both thinner (decreased diameter) and lighter (increased transmission). In "nonresponders" (13/47), regrowing hairs were lighter, but not thinner. The regrowing hair shaft absorption coefficient (as calculated assuming Beer's law) was significantly decreased by 0.3 ms ruby laser treatment, but was not changed by 3 ms ruby laser or diode laser treatment. After diode laser treatment, 38 of the 41 subjects were responders and regrowing hairs were both thinner and lighter. These results show that laser treatments can affect structural recovery (size of hair), follicular pigmentation (hair absorption coefficient), or both. Regrowth of thinner hair (decreased shaft diameter) occurs in conjunction with actual loss of hair. After long pulses (3 ms ruby; diode), regrowing hair was thinner and also lighter to an extent related to the decrease in hair diameter. In contrast, short ruby laser pulses (0.3 ms) appeared to be capable of inhibiting follicular pigmentation per se, in addition to affecting the hair diameter. This may account for the complete regrowth of lighter hair in "nonresponders" treated with 0.3 ms pulses. Laser-induced reduction in hair diameter and/or pigmentation are both long-term responses which confer cosmetic benefits in addition to actual hair loss.     

Particulate Matters Induce Apoptosis in Human Hair Follicular Keratinocytes

BackgroundParticulate matters (PM) comprise a heterogeneous mixture of particles suspended in air. A recent study found that urban PMs may penetrate into hair follicles via transfollicular and transdermal routes in dorsal skin.ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of PM on ex vivo cultured human scalp hair follicles and hair follicular keratinocytes in vitro.MethodsTUNEL staining was employed to check cells undergoing apoptosis in cultured hair follicles after PM treatment. MTT assay was employed to check cell viability after PM treatment. Quantitative real-time PCR analysis was employed to quantitate the expression of inflammatory genes, matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), and Duox1. Inflammatory cytokine levels were measured by ELISA after PM treatment. The level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) production was measured using a chemical fluorescent probe by a fluorescence plate reader.ResultsAbundant TUNEL-positive cells were observed in the keratinocyte region of hair including the epidermis, sebaceous gland, outer root sheath (ORS), inner root sheath (IRS), and bulb region. The viability of follicular cells, including the ORS, was found to be decreased upon PM exposure. mRNA expression and protein levels of inflammatory response genes and MMPs were upregulated in a dose-dependent manner by PM treatment. ROS levels were also increased by PM.ConclusionThese data strongly suggest that penetrated PMs from air pollution may cause apoptotic cell death to follicular keratinocytes by increased production of ROS and inflammatory cytokines, which could impair hair growth.     

Hereditary hypotrichosis simplex: report of a family

We report a family with hereditary hypotrichosis simplex of the scalp, a rare disorder that was first described in 1974. In our family, four out of 10 siblings were affected, including three females and one male. Examination showed thinning of the scalp hair and sparse body hair. Eyebrows, eyelashes, pubic and axillary hair were normal. Skin, nails and teeth were also normal. Hair shaft examination did not reveal any structural abnormalities. Normal follicular units, hair shafts within follicles, eccrine glands and a lack of inflammation were seen on histopathology. The primary pathology underlying this genodermatosis is unclear, but the anagen phase of the hair cycle is clearly compromised.     

Hair Shaft Damage from Heat and Drying Time of Hair Dryer

Background

Hair dryers are commonly used and can cause hair damage such as roughness, dryness and loss of hair color. It is important to understand the best way to dry hair without causing damage.

Objective

The study assessed changes in the ultra-structure, morphology, moisture content, and color of hair after repeated shampooing and drying with a hair dryer at a range of temperatures.

Methods

A standardized drying time was used to completely dry each hair tress, and each tress was treated a total of 30 times. Air flow was set on the hair dryer. The tresses were divided into the following five test groups: (a) no treatment, (b) drying without using a hair dryer (room temperature, 20℃), (c) drying with a hair dryer for 60 seconds at a distance of 15 cm (47℃), (d) drying with a hair dryer for 30 seconds at a distance of 10 cm (61℃), (e) drying with a hair dryer for 15 seconds at a distance of 5 cm (95℃). Scanning and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and lipid TEM were performed. Water content was analyzed by a halogen moisture analyzer and hair color was measured with a spectrophotometer.

Results

Hair surfaces tended to become more damaged as the temperature increased. No cortex damage was ever noted, suggesting that the surface of hair might play a role as a barrier to prevent cortex damage. Cell membrane complex was damaged only in the naturally dried group without hair dryer. Moisture content decreased in all treated groups compared to the untreated control group. However, the differences in moisture content among the groups were not statistically significant. Drying under the ambient and 95℃ conditions appeared to change hair color, especially into lightness, after just 10 treatments.

Conclusion

Although using a hair dryer causes more surface damage than natural drying, using a hair dryer at a distance of 15 cm with continuous motion causes less damage than drying hair naturally.