Background Hair is an ectodermal structure, and its formation is regulated by master genes important in embryology. Hair shaft consists of three major regions: the medulla, cortex and cuticle. Hair shaft abnormality will divide structural hair abnormalities into two broad categories - those associated with increased hair fragility and those not associated with increased hair fragility. We condu...

Hair dysplasias are congenital or acquired alterations which often involve the hair shaft. Hair shaft abnormalities are characterized by changes in color, density, length and structure. Hair shaft alterations often result from structural changes within the hair fibers and cuticles which may lead to brittle and uncombable hair. The hair of patients with hair shaft diseases feels dry and looks lu...

Monilethrix or beaded results from a genetic abnormality of defective hair shaft formation. The altered genetics leads to improper, inefficient, incorporation of structural proteins, minerals during hair shaft formation resulting in weak, brittle hair. Other hair shaft disorders like pili torti, pili trianguli, trichorrhexis nodosa, trichorrhexis invaginata and pili annulati, rolled hair and ci...

Analysis of genotypes for genetic predisposition of diseases has profound and widespread clinical application and has become a fundamental tool in the study of molecular epidemiology. In this study, we report a convenient and completely noninvasive approach to perform genotyping using terminal cephalic hair shaft. The average and median DNA amounts purified from the hair shaft are 112 180 (1 SD...

It is generally accepted that nuclei degrade in developing hair shafts but the point at which such occurs has not been investigated. The fate of mitochondria in the keratinizing hair shaft has been less clear. This study uses transmission electron microscopy to investigate when nuclei and mitochondria are no longer visible in the developing hair shaft. Serial sections were obtained from anagen ...

Analysis of genotypes for genetic predisposition of diseases has profound and widespread clinical application and has become a fundamental tool in the study of molecular epidemiology. In this study, we report a convenient and completely noninvasive approach to perform genotyping using terminal cephalic hair shaft. The average and median DNA amounts purified from the hair shaft are 112 +/- 180 (...

Overall protein integrity is an important hallmark of healthy hair and has a great impact on the cosmetic value of the hair shaft. Hair is comprised of ~80% protein (predominantly αkeratin) and is not regenerative after it exits the scalp. Therefore, protection of the native hair structure on the protein and fiber levels is critical to ensure good cosmetic properties of the hair. Consumer pract...

Cortisol concentrations in hair collected from young male and female adults were assayed and compared for differences along shaft length and between body sites. No significant differences were found between hair shaft sites, supporting a model of the hair shaft as "alive" and responsive to environmental demand in terms of cortisol production. Hair taken from forearms had significantly higher co...

Inherited desmosomal diseases are characterised by skin and/or cardiac features. Dermatological features might be a clue in the determination of the underlying life-threatening cardiac disease. This article aims to propose a dermatological algorithm for the diagnosis of desmosomal diseases after a systematic review of published articles. Palmoplantar keratoderma (PPK), hair shaft anomalies and ...

Hair is maintained through a cyclic process that includes periodic regeneration of hair follicles in a stem cell-dependent manner. Little is known, however, about the cellular and molecular mechanisms that regulate the layered differentiation of the hair follicle. We have established a mutant mouse with a cyclic alopecia phenotype resulting from the targeted disruption of Sox21, a gene that enc...