Investigation of Aging Effects in Human Hair Using Atomic Force Microscopy

The study, involving 60 Korean volunteers aged between 4 and 60 years, used atomic force microscopy to assess the impact of aging on human hair. It found that hair diameter increased until the age of 20-30 years and then decreased, with no significant difference between males and females. The maximum hair diameter was 85.87 ± 18.86 µm. Older individuals' hair showed more damage, with increased surface roughness and less defined scale edges, resembling chemo-mechanically damaged hair fibers. The study concluded that aging affects hair diameter and surface structure, potentially due to damage in precortical keratinocytes, and suggested the need for further research to understand the underlying mechanisms. The research was funded by the Kyung Hee University Research Fund in 2008.