Age-related changes in the hair follicle and hair shaft in women in the parietal region

Introduction. Medical trichology is a promising and modern direction of cosmetology, engaged in the study of the scalp and hair, both in the state of health and various diseases. However, with all the variety of various scientific publications, there are very few works devoted to the study of morphological changes in normal physiological aging of a person.

Aim. To reveal the dynamics of morphological changes in the hair bulb and hair shaft in women in the parietal region to elderly age.

Materials and methods. The work is based on the results of microscopic examination of 80 women, the study sample consisted of conditionally healthy individuals. The examined women were divided into three groups depending on their age. The first group included 27 women of the first period of mature age (26.9 ± 0.70 years). The second group consisted of 30 women of the second period of mature age (47.1 ± 1.20 years). The third group was formed by 23 women of old age (62.1 ± 1.09 years). Hair sampling was performed in the parietal region of the head by combing out the hair that had already fallen out (without pulling it out of the skin!). The width of the hair bulb and hair shaft were measured. The percentage of bulbs containing an internal root sheath to the total number of bulbs was calculated.

Results and discussion. With age, a decrease in the number of hair follicles with internal root sheath (p < 0.01) along with a tendency to decrease the width of the hair follicle and hair shaft (p > 0.05) was noted in women in the parietal region.

Conclusions. The results of this study add to the information available in the scientific literature about age-related changes occurring in the hair bulb and hair shaft in women by old age. The data obtained will be useful for trichologists in medical practice to create clinical recommendations for the early prevention of age-related alopecia areata.

1. Martynov AA, Vlasova AV. The Origin and Development of Russian Cosmetology. History of Medicine. 2019;6(3):169–175. Available at: https://historymedjournal.com/uploads/paper/feead71eccf05f763237b154238614cc.pdf.

2. Blanco-Dávila F. Beauty and the body: the origins of cosmetics. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2000;105(3):1196–1204. https://doi.org/10.1097/00006534-200003000-00058.

3. Goldie K, Kerscher M, Fabi SG, Hirano C, Landau M, Lim TS et al. Skin Quality – A Holistic 360° View: Consensus Results. Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol. 2021;14:643–654. https://doi.org/10.2147/ccid.s309374.

4. Trüeb RM, Rezende HD, Dias MFRG, Uribe NC. Trichology and Trichiatry; Etymological and Terminological Considerations. Int J Trichology. 2022;14(4):117–119. https://doi.org/10.4103/ijt.ijt_104_21.

5. Trüeb RM, Dutra H, Dias MFRG. Autistic-Undisciplined Thinking in the Practice of Medical Trichology. Int J Trichology. 2019;11(1):1–7. https://doi.org/10.4103/ijt.ijt_79_18.

6. Smirnova IO, Medetskaya OM, Petunova YaG, Ptashnikova PD, Shin NV, Zhelonkina AO et al. The association of hair loss and coronavirus infection COVID-19 – facts and hypotheses. Meditsinskiy Sovet. 2023;(2):98–104. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.21518/ms2023-020.

7. Sakania LR, Melnichenko OO, Korsunskaya IM. Hair loss due to a new coronavirus infection: treatment approaches. Meditsinskiy Sovet. 2021;(8):77–80. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.21518/2079-701X-2021-8-77-80.

8. Trüeb RM. Chemotherapy-induced hair loss. Skin Therapy Lett. 2010;15(7):5–7. Available at: https://www.skintherapyletter.com/alopecia/chemotherapy-induced/.

9. Amarillo D, de Boni D, Cuello M. Chemotherapy, Alopecia, and Scalp Cooling Systems. Actas Dermosifiliogr. 2022;113(3):278–283. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ad.2021.09.003.

10. Каприн АД, Старинский ВВ, Шахзадова АО (ред.). Злокачественные новообразования в России в 2021 году (заболеваемость и смертность). М.: МНИОИ им. П.А. Герцена – филиал ФГБУ «НМИЦ радиологии» Минздрава России; 2022. 252 с. Режим доступа: https://oncology-association.ru/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/zlokachestvennye-novoobrazovaniya-vrossii-v-2021-g_zabolevaemost-i-smertnost.pdf.

11. Favier N, Guinet AG, Nageleisen M, Ceccaldi B, Pujade-Lauraine E, LeFoll Ch et al. Secondary effects and quality of life with chemotherapy: assessing the impact of an osteopathic treatment (multicentric randomized clinical trial). Russian Osteopathic Journal. 2019;(3-4):174–185. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.32885/2220-0975-2019-3-4-174-185.

12. Balandin AA, Zheleznov LM, Balandina IA. Comparative characteristics of human thalamus parameters in the first period of mature age and in senile age in mesocephals. Siberian Scientific Medical Journal. 2021;41(2):101–105. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.18699/SSMJ20210214.

13. Baryshnikov IA. Anatomometric parameters and topography of the prostate in mature men according to magnetic resonance imaging findings. Russian Journal of Operative Surgery and Clinical Anatomy. 2018;2(4):3–10. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.17116/operhirurg201820413.

14. Klochkova SV, Devonaev OT, Alexeeva NT, Nikityuk DB. Macro-microscopic anatomy of the lymphoid nodules of the urinary organs in people of different age. Journal of Anatomy and Histopathology. 2022;11(1):44–48. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.18499/2225-7357-2022-11-1-44-48.

15. Martirosyan LP, Balandina IA. The thickness of the ventricles and interventricular septum in males with overweight according to echocardiography. Meditsinskiy Sovet. 2021;(14):158–162. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.21518/2079-701X-2021-14-158-162.

16. Balandina IA, Balandin AA, Balandin VA, Zheleznov LM. Regularities of organometric characteristics of cerebellum in young and old age. Journal of Global Pharma Technology. 2017;9(3):49–53. Available at: http://www.jgpt.co.in/index.php/jgpt/article/view/124.

17. Arda KN, Akay S. The Relationship between Corpus Callosum Morphometric Measurements and Age/Gender Characteristics: A Comprehensive MR Imaging Study. J Clin Imaging Sci. 2019;9:33. https://doi.org/10.25259/JCIS-13-2019.

18. Bolotnaya LA, Sarian EI. Hair diseases. East European Journal of Internal and Family Medicine. 2017;(1):31–38. (In Russ.) Available at: https://journals.indexcopernicus.com/api/file/viewByFileId/169560.

19. Naik PP, Farrukh SN. Association between alopecia areata and thyroid dysfunction. Postgrad Med. 2021;133(8):895–898. https://doi.org/10.1080/00325481.2021.1974689.

20. Safer JD. Thyroid hormone action on skin. Curr Opin Endocrinol Diabetes Obes. 2012;19(5):388–393. https://doi.org/10.1097/MED.0b013e328357b45e.

21. Trost LB, Bergfeld WF, Calogeras E. The diagnosis and treatment of iron deficiency and its potential relationship to hair loss. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2006;54(5):824–844. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaad.2005.11.1104.

22. Zorin VL, Zorina AI, Petrakova OS, Cherkasov VR. Dermal fibroblasts for skin defects therapy. Genes & Cells. 2009;4(4):26–40. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.23868/gc121420.

23. Zorina A, Zorin V, Kudlay D, Kopnin P. Age-Related Changes in the Fibroblastic Differon of the Dermis: Role in Skin Aging. Int J Mol Sci. 2022;23(11):6135. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms23116135.

24. Jang H, Jo Y, Lee JH, Choi S. Aging of hair follicle stem cells and their niches. BMB Rep. 2023;56(1):2–9. https://doi.org/10.5483/BMBRep.2022-0183.

25. Li KN, Tumbar T. Hair follicle stem cells as a skin-organizing signaling center during adult homeostasis. EMBO J. 2021;40(11):e107135. https://doi.org/10.15252/embj.2020107135.

26. Ryan T. The ageing of the blood supply and the lymphatic drainage of the skin. Micron. 2004;35(3):161–171. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.micron.2003.11.010.

27. Cracowski JL, Roustit M. Human Skin Microcirculation. Compr Physiol. 2020;10(3):1105–1154. https://doi.org/10.1002/cphy.c190008.

28. Kruglikov IL, Scherer PE. Skin aging: are adipocytes the next target? Aging (Albany NY). 2016;8(7):1457–1469. https://doi.org/10.18632/aging.100999.

29. Shook BA, Wasko RR, Mano O, Rutenberg-Schoenberg M, Rudolph MC, Zirak B et al. Dermal Adipocyte Lipolysis and Myofibroblast Conversion Are Required for Efficient Skin Repair. Cell Stem Cell. 2020;26(6):880–895.e6. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.stem.2020.03.013.

30. Fürstenberger G, Epp N, Eckl KM, Hennies HC, Jørgensen C, Hallenborg P et al. Role of epidermis-type lipoxygenases for skin barrier function and adipocyte differentiation. Prostaglandins Other Lipid Mediat. 2007;82(1-4):128–134. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.prostaglandins.2006.05.006.