Spectral Histology of Hair and Hair Follicle Using Infrared Microspectroscopy

The study explores the use of infrared microspectroscopy to enhance the understanding of the chemical composition of human hair, including the hair follicle, shaft, medulla, and cuticle. By employing hyperspectral IR imaging and synchrotron-radiation FTIR microspectroscopy, the researchers identified glycogen in the outer root sheath of the hair follicle and unsaturated lipids in the hair medulla for the first time using vibrational spectroscopy. Additionally, they discovered that calcium carboxylates are more widely distributed in the hair cuticle than previously thought. These findings highlight the potential applications of infrared microspectroscopy in biomedical research and cosmetology.