Scalp Hair Sweating as a Predictor of Hair Cortisol Level in Humans Compared to Obesity and Other Confounders

This study aimed to identify factors that significantly predict hair cortisol levels, including BMI, perceived stress, hair wash frequency, and scalp hair sweating. The research involved collecting data from healthy adults, including socio-demographics, stress levels, hair care habits, and scalp sweating, followed by analyzing their hair samples for cortisol. The findings revealed that the mean hair cortisol level was 16.84 pg/mg hair, and that scalp hair sweating had a significant positive association with hair cortisol levels, predicting 12.3% of the variance, while other factors like BMI and perceived stress were associated but did not significantly predict cortisol levels. Age, hair wash frequency, and hair treatment showed no association with hair cortisol. The study concluded that scalp hair sweating is a significant predictor of hair cortisol levels and should be considered in future research and interpretation of these levels.