Hair Root Characteristics of the Human Scalp Hair in Health and Disease

The document discussed advancements in understanding human scalp hair, focusing on the morphology, structure, and hormonal influences on hair growth. It highlighted the use of hair plucking followed by microscopic examination as a diagnostic tool, a technique standardized by Van Scott et al. in 1957. Despite variations in methodology by subsequent researchers, the document emphasized the need for a reliable, uniform technique and strict criteria for assessing hair root morphology. The findings were limited to human scalp hair roots and suggested that a simple, atraumatic technique for preparing hair root status could be valuable in evaluating hair diseases and determining appropriate therapies.