Are Hair Cortisol Levels Dependent on Hair Growth Rate? A Pilot Study in Rhesus Macaques

September 2023 in “ General and comparative endocrinology ”

Amanda M. Dettmer, Melinda A. Novak, Jerrold S. Meyer

hair cortisol concentrations HCCs hair growth rate cortisol-mediated inhibition stress conditions cortisol

TLDR Monkey hair cortisol levels are not affected by how fast their hair grows.

The study "Are hair cortisol levels dependent on hair growth rate? A pilot study in rhesus macaques" investigated the relationship between hair cortisol concentrations (HCCs) and hair growth rate in both non-stressed and stressed rhesus macaques. The study found that HCCs were not significantly correlated with hair growth rate over a 3-month period in either adult or infant rhesus macaques. This suggests that higher HCCs within the non-stress range do not result from cortisol-mediated inhibition of hair growth. However, the study concludes that it remains unknown whether hair HCCs are dependent on altered hair growth rates under stress conditions. The study involved a total of 36 macaques (18 adults and 18 infants).

View this study on sciencedirect.com →

Discuss this study in the Community →

Cited in this study

6 / 6 results

research Corticosterone Inhibits GAS6 to Govern Hair Follicle Stem-Cell Quiescence

77 citations , March 2021 in “Nature”

Stress hormone corticosterone blocks a growth factor to slow down hair stem cell activity and hair growth.

research The Local Hypothalamic–Pituitary–Adrenal Axis in Cultured Human Dermal Papilla Cells

9 citations , June 2020 in “BMC Molecular and Cell Biology”

Stress hormone CRF can cause hair loss by affecting hair growth cells and hormones.

research Towards The Validation Of Endogenous Steroid Testing In Wildlife Hair

44 citations , December 2018 in “Journal of applied ecology”

Hair analysis for stress and reproductive hormones in wildlife needs more research for accuracy across species.

research Probing the Effects of Stress Mediators on the Human Hair Follicle

159 citations , December 2007 in “American Journal of Pathology”

Stress-related substance P may lead to hair loss and negatively affect hair growth.

research Burden of Hair Loss: Stress and the Underestimated Psychosocial Impact of Telogen Effluvium and Androgenetic Alopecia

162 citations , September 2004 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology”

Hair loss causes stress and affects mental health; treatment and support needed.

research Stress Inhibits Hair Growth in Mice by Inducing Premature Catagen Development and Harmful Perifollicular Inflammatory Events via Neuropeptide Substance P-Dependent Pathways

194 citations , March 2003 in “American Journal of Pathology”

Stress stops hair growth in mice by causing early hair growth phase end and harmful inflammation through a specific nerve-related pathway.

3 / 3 results

research Safety and Efficacy of Trimax-360 Serum in Healthy Adult Subjects with Mild to Moderate Alopecia of the Scalp

May 2022 in “Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology”

Trimax-360 Serum, when used for 98 days, safely and effectively improves hair growth, thickness, and density without any side effects.

research Bold to Do — Bald to Be? Outcomes Decades After Harvesting the Scalp in Burned Children

5 citations , May 2019 in “Burns”

Most patients who had scalp skin removed for burns as children had normal hair growth and were satisfied years later.

research Scalp Hair Characteristics in the Newborn Infant

46 citations , December 2003 in “Advances in neonatal care”

Assessing newborn scalp hair can reveal important health information.