Evidence for Calcium Soaps in Human Hair Shaft Revealed by Sub-Micrometer X-Ray Fluorescence

    March 2003 in “ Journal de Physique IV (Proceedings) ”
    Fatma Briki, C. Mérigoux, F. Sarrot-Reynauld, M. Salomé, Barbara Fayard, Jean Susini, J. Doucet
    TLDR Calcium soaps are present in human hair and can be removed with acid.
    The study revealed the presence of calcium in human scalp hair shafts using X-ray microfluorescence imaging. It identified two types of calcium: one that could be easily removed by hydrochloric acid, found in the cortex, cuticle, and medulla core, identified as calcium soaps; and another type that was not easily removable, located in the medulla wall, cuticle, and cortex, possibly involved in Ca2+-binding proteins. The concentration of the latter type was consistent across different individuals.
    Discuss this study in the Community →

    Related Community Posts Join

    6 / 141 results

      community C’est terrible - at my wits end

      in Female  450 upvotes 2 years ago
      A 29-year-old woman is experiencing gradual hair thinning since age 15, suspects Androgenic Alopecia, and has tried 5% minoxidil with little success. She has purchased various hair loss treatments including minoxidil, dutasteride, finasteride, and spironolactone, but is cautious about starting them due to potential interactions with her ADHD medication.

      community M23 , on finaestride and minoxidil for 4.8 months

      in Progress Pictures 2 years ago
      . This conversation is about a user's progress while using minoxidil and finasteride to treat hair loss, with emphasis on taking oral finasteride at night before bed for optimal results. They also discuss the brand of medication being used (Morr F 5%) and the importance of taking a generic version of the same drug.

      community Started Finasteride + Derma rolling

      in Finasteride/Dutasteride  3 upvotes 5 years ago
      The user started finasteride and derma rolling for hair loss, later switching to wet cupping therapy. They experienced initial shedding but reported thicker, healthier hair over time, using natural hair wash methods like Amla, Reetha, and Shikakai.

      community Why don’t more people use hair fibers?

      in Product  527 upvotes 1 month ago
      Hair fibers can effectively cover thinning hair when used with minoxidil and hairspray but require daily application and can be inconvenient in certain conditions. Some users prefer treatments like finasteride, dutasteride, microneedling, or wigs due to the maintenance and limitations of hair fibers.

      community Injecting stomach fat into the scalp could cure baldness in just six months

      in Update  114 upvotes 7 years ago
      A potential treatment for hair loss that involves injecting fat into the scalp; the role of testosterone and estrogen in thinning fat tissue under the skin; research on using lard to treat androgenic alopecia, as well as PRP + ACELL/amniotic stem cell treatments; and ongoing clinical trials by doctors involved in the study.

    Related Research

    1 / 1 results