Hair Cortisol Concentrations Are Associated with Hair Growth Rate

Xiang, Lianbin; Sunesara, Imran; Rehm, Kristina E.; Marshall, Gailen D.

doi:10.1159/000455867

Cited by 16 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 39 publications

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“…While dietary zinc intake (which was not included in this review) may provide helpful information on zinc status, it does not take into account zinc loss, which can occur via the skin, urine, or stool . As hair grows at an average of 1 cm per month, hair analysis may be a better indicator of average zinc levels rather than serum analysis which may be affected by acute fluctuations . Interestingly, hair zinc has been shown to be a marker of marginal zinc deficiency (MZD), as it has been used to detect subtle, asymptomatic zinc deficiency, which is reversible with zinc supplementation and which could not be detected using serum measurements .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…44 As hair grows at an average of 1 cm per month, hair analysis may be a better indicator of average zinc levels rather than serum analysis which may be affected by acute fluctuations. 45,46 Interestingly, hair zinc has been shown to be a marker of marginal zinc deficiency (MZD), as it has been used to detect subtle, asymptomatic zinc deficiency, which is reversible with zinc supplementation and which could not be detected using serum measurements. 45 It is hypothesized that the slow uptake of zinc by hair is reduced in states of decreased zinc availability.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Zinc and atopic dermatitis: a systematic review and meta‐analysis

Gray

Dhana

Stein

et al. 2019

Acad Dermatol Venereol

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Zinc plays a central role in skin integrity via barrier and immune mechanisms and may also be relevant in the pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis (AD). However, little is known about the relationship between zinc and AD. We performed a systematic review to determine (i) the association between zinc levels or zinc deficiency and AD and (ii) the efficacy of oral zinc supplementation in the treatment of AD. We searched PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science and article references for observational studies on zinc levels or zinc deficiency in participants with AD vs. controls and for randomized control trials (RCTs) on zinc supplementation in AD. For observational studies, we calculated pooled standardized mean differences (SMDs) or odds ratios (ORs) along with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) using a random effects model. We included 14 observational studies and two RCTs. The pooled SMD demonstrated significantly lower serum (SMD 0.66, 95% CI 0.21–1.10, P = 0.004), hair (SMD 0.95, 95% CI 0.38–1.52, P = 0.001) and erythrocyte (SMD 0.95, 95% CI 0.38–1.52, P = 0.001) zinc levels in participants with AD compared to controls. Pooled unadjusted data from three studies showed a non‐significant increased odds of AD in those with zinc deficiency compared with those without zinc deficiency (OR = 1.50, 95% CI 0.71–3.16, P = 0.28). One RCT of oral zinc supplementation among AD patients with zinc deficiency showed improvement in extent and severity of AD, while another RCT among all AD patients showed no significant improvement. All the studies were of low or moderate quality. We conclude that low serum, hair and erythrocyte zinc levels are associated with AD. However, the poor quality of included studies makes interpretation of these results problematic. High‐quality observational studies are needed to confirm the association between low zinc levels and AD, and RCTs are required to evaluate the merit of zinc supplementation for the treatment or prevention of AD.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Zinc and atopic dermatitis: a systematic review and meta‐analysis

Gray

Dhana

Stein

et al. 2019

Acad Dermatol Venereol

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“…However, there are limitations in the study related to: the small sample size; the focus on one sex; inclusion of only healthy individuals exposed to a relatively mild stress; the relatively small number (three) of assessments over the course of 24 weeks; the lack of biopsies for hair cycle staging; the limited number of neuroendocrine-immune stress measurements; and the choice of a quasi-experimental naturalistic study design rather than a random-control study design. Replication of these pilot observations is therefore required for example: in more diverse study populations; in individuals exposed to more severe stress such as traumatic experiences; or with additional outcomes such as morning serum levels of HPA activity markers like cortisol and corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH), neuropeptides like substance P (SP) or neurotrophins like nerve growth factor (NGF), all of which link with hair biology [ 76 – 79 ]. This could confirm their validity for the clinical diagnosis of stress-induced hair loss, as well as for the assessment of biological stress-effects in respective studies.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Hair and stress: A pilot study of hair and cytokine balance alteration in healthy young women under major exam stress

et al. 2017

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Mouse models show that experimental stress mimicking prolonged life-stress exposure enhances neurogenic inflammation, induces adaptive immunity cytokine-imbalance characterized by a shift to Type 1 T-helper cell cytokines and increases apoptosis of epithelial cells. This affects hair growth in otherwise healthy animals. In this study, we investigate whether a prolonged naturalistic life-stress exposure affects cytokine balance and hair parameters in healthy humans. 33 (18 exam, 15 comparison) female medical students with comparable sociobiological status were analyzed during a stressful final examination period, at three points in time (T) 12 weeks apart. T1 was before start of the learning period, T2 between the three-day written exam and an oral examination, and T3 after a 12 week rest and recovery from the stress of the examination period. Assessments included: self-reported distress and coping strategies (Perceived Stress Questionnaire [PSQ], Trier Inventory for the Assessment of Chronic Stress [TICS]), COPE), cytokines in supernatants of stimulated peripheral blood mononucleocytes (PBMCs), and trichogram (hair cycle and pigmentation analysis). Comparison between students participating in the final medical exam at T2 and non-exam students, revealed significantly higher stress perception in exam students. Time-wise comparison revealed that stress level, TH1/TH2 cytokine balance and hair parameters changed significantly from T1 to T2 in the exam group, but not the control. However, no group differences were found for cytokine balance or hair parameters at T2. The study concludes that in humans, naturalistic stress, as perceived during participation in a major medical exam, has the potential to shift the immune response to TH1 and transiently hamper hair growth, but these changes stay within a physiological range. Findings are instructive for patients suffering from hair loss in times of high stress. Replication in larger and more diverse sample populations is required, to assess suitability of trichogram analysis as biological outcome for stress studies.

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“…Recently, particular focus has been given to hair cortisol concentration (HCC) as a promising diagnostic instrument in clinical practice [ 40 ]. Hair cortisol concentration was also reported to have an impact on correct hair growth [ 41 ]. The presence of cortisol in high levels is strictly connected with a reduction in the synthesis and premature degradation of hyaluronans and proteoglycans—important modulators of hair follicle function; however, low cortisol levels can actually bring positive effects on hair growth by slowing down the degradation of these two skin components [ 42 ].…”

Section: Endocrine Regulations Of the Hair Folliclementioning

confidence: 99%

Hormonal Effects on Hair Follicles

Grymowicz

Rudnicka

Podfigurna

et al. 2020

IJMS

128

109

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The hair cycle and hair follicle structure are highly affected by various hormones. Androgens—such as testosterone (T); dihydrotestosterone (DHT); and their prohormones, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) and androstendione (A)—are the key factors in terminal hair growth. They act on sex-specific areas of the body, converting small, straight, fair vellus hairs into larger darker terminal hairs. They bind to intracellular androgen receptors in the dermal papilla cells of the hair follicle. The majority of hair follicles also require the intracellular enzyme 5-alpha reductase to convert testosterone into DHT. Apart from androgens, the role of other hormones is also currently being researched—e.g., estradiol can significantly alter the hair follicle growth and cycle by binding to estrogen receptors and influencing aromatase activity, which is responsible for converting androgen into estrogen (E2). Progesterone, at the level of the hair follicle, decreases the conversion of testosterone into DHT. The influence of prolactin (PRL) on hair growth has also been intensively investigated, and PRL and PRL receptors were detected in human scalp skin. Our review includes results from many analyses and provides a comprehensive up-to-date understanding of the subject of the effects of hormonal changes on the hair follicle.

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Hair Cortisol Concentrations Are Associated with Hair Growth Rate

Cited by 16 publications

References 39 publications

Zinc and atopic dermatitis: a systematic review and meta‐analysis

Zinc and atopic dermatitis: a systematic review and meta‐analysis

Hair and stress: A pilot study of hair and cytokine balance alteration in healthy young women under major exam stress

Hormonal Effects on Hair Follicles

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