Hair is a keratinous filament growing from the epidermis of mammals, primarily functioning as protection, insulation, and sensory input. Each hair strand grows from a follicle deep within the skin and consists of two main parts: the root, which is embedded in the follicle, and the shaft, which is the visible part above the skin. Human hair varies in texture, color, and density, all of which are influenced by genetic factors. While head hair provides thermal insulation and protection from UV radiation, body hair plays roles in sensory detection and in the enhancement of sweat evaporation for cooling. Hair growth occurs in cycles, including growth, cessation, and rest phases, which determine the length and overall health of the hair. In addition to its biological functions, hair has significant cultural and aesthetic importance, influencing concepts of beauty and personal identity across different societies.
Researchers have developed a machine to study hair splitting, revealing new insights into how mechanical stress and treatments like bleaching impact hair. This research provides…
A new microneedle patch effectively treats alopecia areata by rebalancing the immune response locally, promoting hair regrowth and reducing inflammation without systemic side effects. Researchers…
The average morning routine for many Americans involves inhaling several milligrams of potentially harmful chemicals, according to Purdue University researchers. In a newly-published paper in Environmental Science &…
Researchers in Bonn have identified rare genetic variants that are involved in male-pattern hair loss. Previous studies on male pattern hair loss, or androgenetic alopecia,…
A new study in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology uncovers the genes that dictate the direction of hair whorls. The first gene mapping study on…
Findings may offer a road map for the next generation of therapies for androgenetic alopecia. Researchers have discovered that senescent pigment cells in skin moles…
Tightly curled scalp hair protected early humans from the sun’s radiative heat, allowing their brains to grow to sizes comparable to those of modern humans….
Softening stiff hair follicle stem cells with a microRNA regrows hair. Regulating cell mechanics stimulates hair growth in mice Next step will be testing if…
A study by NYU Grossman School of Medicine researchers found that melanocyte stem cells (McSCs) lose their ability to move between hair follicle compartments as…
Hair loss is undesirable for many men — and women — because one’s hairstyle is often closely tied to their sense of self-confidence. And while…
SCUBE3 has been found to be a potential therapeutic option for treating androgenetic alopecia. A signaling molecule known as SCUBE3, which was discovered by researchers…
Discovery Could Help End Baldness and Speed Healing Scientists have discovered that a single chemical is key to controlling when hair follicle cells divide, and…
The results of a clinical trial released today (May 18, 2020) in STEM CELLS Translational Medicine demonstrate how a topical solution made up of stem cells…
Despite being four times thicker than human hair, elephant hair is only half as strong—that’s just one finding from researchers studying the hair strength of…
Working with model mice, post-mortem human brains, and people with schizophrenia, researchers at the RIKEN Center for Brain Science in Japan have discovered that a…
Few things on earth strike fear into the hearts of men more profoundly than hair loss. But reversing baldness could someday be as easy as…
Scientists have determined a new way to protect the hair follicle from chemotherapy in an effort to prevent hair loss as a result of cancer…
An outstanding question in dermatology that researchers have studied for decades is: How do hair follicles emerge from a sea of seemingly uniform skin cells…