Silicon in Hair Loss: A Preliminary SEM Microanalysis Study
February 2007
in “
Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology
”
TLDR The study suggests silicon might be important for healthy hair, as less silicon was found in people with hair loss.
In a preliminary study examining the role of silicon (Si) in hair loss, researchers compared the hair composition of 20 female patients with telogen effluvium to 20 healthy female controls using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray microanalysis (EDX). The study found that Si was present in only 5% of the patients but in 35% of the controls, a statistically significant difference. Calcium (Ca) was found in 70% of patients and 85% of controls, while sulfur (S) was found in 100% of both groups, with the differences in Ca not being statistically significant. The findings suggest that Si may play a role in hair trophism, as it is concentrated in the cornified epidermis and hair epicuticle and tends to diminish with age. This study, which is the first of its kind, indicates that further research is needed to confirm the role of Si in hair health, despite the high costs associated with SEM microanalysis.
