Relationship Between the Bacterial Community Structures on Human Hair and Scalp

The study analyzed bacterial community structures on human hair and scalp from 18 individuals, revealing significant differences in cell density, alpha and beta diversity, and relative abundances of major bacterial phyla. The scalp harbored a more diverse bacterial community due to its moist and nutrient-rich environment, while hair had a higher bacterial cell number and distinct bacterial populations, including a stable presence of Pseudomonas. The findings suggested that hair-specific bacterial communities are formed from both hair-specific and skin-derived bacteria, with implications for understanding scalp health and conditions like dandruff and alopecia.