The Proteomic Profile of Hair Damage

June 2012 in “ British Journal of Dermatology ”

Rodney Sinclair, Michael J. Flagler, Leslie Jones, Nicholas W Rufaut, Michael Davis

oxidative damage bleaching hair protein structure keratin 31 protein loss monilethrix proteomic analysis hair damage hair bleaching hair protein hair strength hair shaft disorder

TLDR Bleaching hair damages protein structure, especially keratin, leading to weakened hair.

The study from 2012 investigated the effects of oxidative damage from bleaching on hair protein structure and strength. Researchers used proteomic techniques to identify peptide damage markers and found that bleaching targets specific sites in hair proteins, particularly keratin 31, leading to a loss of structural integrity. Bleached hair was shown to lose significantly more protein than virgin hair, indicating that protein loss is a sensitive measure of hair damage. The study also linked the proteins lost in chemically damaged hair to those associated with monilethrix, a hair shaft disorder. These findings suggest that proteomic analysis can provide valuable insights into hair damage and help in developing treatments to strengthen hair.

View this study on academic.oup.com →

Discuss this study in the Community →

Research cited in this study

8 / 8 results

research Chronic Telogen Effluvium Is Due to a Reduction in the Variance of Anagen Duration

40 citations, May 2010 in “Australasian Journal of Dermatology”

Chronic hair shedding may be caused by less variation in hair growth times and might stop on its own after several years.

research The Keratins of the Human Beard Hair Medulla: The Riddle in the Middle

87 citations, July 2009 in “The journal of investigative dermatology/Journal of investigative dermatology”

Human beard hair medulla contains a unique and complex mix of keratins not found in other human tissues.

Loss-Of-Function Mutations of an Inhibitory Upstream ORF in the Human Hairless Transcript Cause Marie Unna Hereditary Hypotrichosis

research Loss-Of-Function Mutations of an Inhibitory Upstream ORF in the Human Hairless Transcript Cause Marie Unna Hereditary Hypotrichosis

181 citations, January 2009 in “Nature Genetics”

Certain mutations in a hair growth-related gene cause a type of genetic hair loss.

The Ludwig Pattern of Androgenetic Alopecia Is Due to a Hierarchy of Androgen Sensitivity Within Follicular Units That Leads to Selective Miniaturization and a Reduction in the Number of Terminal Hairs Per Follicular Unit

research The Ludwig Pattern of Androgenetic Alopecia Is Due to a Hierarchy of Androgen Sensitivity Within Follicular Units That Leads to Selective Miniaturization and a Reduction in the Number of Terminal Hairs Per Follicular Unit

47 citations, September 2008 in “British Journal of Dermatology”

Ludwig pattern hair loss in women results from varying sensitivity in hair follicles, causing fewer visible hairs.

research Hair Physiology and Its Disorders

31 citations, May 2008 in “Drug Discovery Today: Disease Mechanisms”

Different hair growth problems are caused by genetic issues or changes in hair growth cycles, and new treatments are being developed.

research Healthy Hair: What Is It?

47 citations, November 2007 in “The journal of investigative dermatology. Symposium proceedings/The Journal of investigative dermatology symposium proceedings”

Healthy hair is shiny, smooth, and has clean ends.

research Hair Coloring, Permanent Styling, and Hair Structure

72 citations, July 2003 in “Journal of cosmetic dermatology”

Frequent hair coloring and styling can damage hair and cause breakage or loss.

research The Hair Shaft: Normality, Abnormality, and Genetics

11 citations, March 2001 in “Clinics in Dermatology”

Hair microscopy is useful for diagnosing hair disorders, but clear definitions are needed for accurate genetic analysis.

Related Community Posts Join

6 / 67 results

community Quit vaping/smoking = 80% less loss

in Research/Science 235 upvotes 8 months ago

Quitting vaping significantly reduced hair loss for a user who was a heavy vaper and also taking finasteride. Some participants suggest nicotine's vasoconstrictive properties may worsen hair loss, while others share personal anecdotes of hair improvement after quitting smoking or vaping.

community DIY treatment... Shedding completely stopped after 1.5 yrs

in Treatment 249 upvotes 2 years ago

Vitamin C mixed with shampoo stopped shedding and promoted hair regrowth after 1.5 years. Both the person and their wife experienced significant hair loss reduction with this method.

community Anything you use without scientific backing, just trusting your gut?

in Research/Science 12 upvotes 2 years ago

The conversation discusses using peppermint oil for hair loss, with one user applying it undiluted to the scalp and another combining it with finasteride and microneedling. Some believe in its effectiveness despite limited scientific evidence, and also mention rosemary oil as potentially beneficial.

community Could low blood flow to the head cause an increased rate of thinning?

in Chat 27 upvotes 3 years ago

The user started using finasteride, minoxidil, and biotin for male pattern baldness (MPB) and is experiencing rapid thinning. They are questioning if low blood flow to the head could be contributing to their hair loss.

community Diffuse hair loss and scalp biopsies

in Research 692 upvotes 4 months ago

Scalp biopsies are crucial for diagnosing hair loss conditions like Diffuse Unpatterned Alopecia (DUPA) and retrograde hair loss, as treatments like finasteride and dutasteride may not be effective if other conditions are present. Combining PPAR-GAMMA agonists with retinoids could improve treatments for conditions like Lichen Planopilaris.

community 57% increased chance of pattern hair loss independently associated with the consumption of sugary beverages in men (p<0.001) Pt 2

in Research/Science 479 upvotes 4 months ago

Sugary beverages increase the risk of pattern hair loss in men by 57%. Treatments discussed include Minoxidil, finasteride, and RU58841.

Related Research

4 / 4 results

research Hair Care Practices and Structural Evaluation of Scalp and Hair Shaft Parameters in African American and Caucasian Women

25 citations, August 2015 in “Journal of cosmetic dermatology”

African American women report more hair issues and use different hair care practices than Caucasian women, and have different hair and scalp characteristics.

research Hair Shaft Abnormalities: Clues to Diagnosis and Treatment

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.

research Disorders of Hair Growth: Diagnosis and Treatment

26 citations, January 1994 in “McGraw-Hill eBooks”

Many hair loss conditions can be treated.

research Uncombable-Hair Syndrome

12 citations, November 1987 in “Pediatric dermatology”

Four children had unmanageable pale blond hair due to uncombable-hair syndrome.