TLDR The patient's hair was thinner and had fewer lipids due to a genetic mutation.
The study characterized the hair of a patient with a novel ribosomopathy due to a mutation in the RPS23 gene, which affected the 40S ribosome subunit. The patient exhibited symptoms such as hypotonia, autism, extra teeth, elastic skin, and thin/brittle hair. Using optical microscopy, tensile tests, and X-ray diffraction, researchers found the patient's hair was 22% thinner compared to family members, although the Young's modulus was unchanged. X-ray diffraction indicated a 20% reduction in lipids in the cell membrane complex, explaining the hair's altered properties. These findings could aid in diagnosing similar mutations in the future.
37 citations
,
October 2015 in “PeerJ” Perming significantly changes hair's molecular structure, while shampoo and conditioner do not.
107 citations
,
October 2014 in “PeerJ” Hair's molecular structure is mostly consistent, but genetic differences affect lipid types, which could help diagnose diseases.
6 citations
,
January 2012 in “Breast cancer” Breast cancer may be detectable through changes in scalp hair lipids.
40 citations
,
February 2002 in “International Journal of Dermatology” Permanent hair dye damages hair but it mostly recovers after 8 weeks; using certain hair care products can help repair it.
157 citations
,
April 1994 in “Clinical endocrinology” Androgens can cause hair growth in some areas and hair loss on the scalp.
1 citations
,
December 2022 in “Clinical, cosmetic and investigational dermatology” Arab hair is generally thicker but less dense compared to other ethnicities, affecting hair disorder diagnosis and treatment.
20 citations
,
October 2013 in “British Journal of Dermatology” The document concludes that clinicians should be aware of common hair and scalp disorders in women of African descent and that more research is needed to develop effective treatments.
44 citations
,
January 2005 in “Dermatology” Hair problems can be caused by genetics or the environment, and treatment should focus on the cause and reducing hair damage.
34 citations
,
August 2003 in “Clinical and Experimental Dermatology” Pregnant women's hair gets thicker.
12 citations
,
November 1987 in “Pediatric dermatology” Four children had unmanageable pale blond hair due to uncombable-hair syndrome.
