Korean J Dermatol.
1964 Jun;3(1):23-38.
A Study of Hair Cuticular Scale Impression in Normal People
Abstract
- so far no study had been made of the hair cuticular scales of Korean people. A basic investigation was made of the hair cuticular scales of 120 Koreans whose age ranged from birth to 70 years old. Samples were taken as follows:scalp hair 360, eye brow 20, nose hair 20, axillary hair 30, pubic hair 40 and leg hair 30. Fifteen samples were also taken from foreigners. All the samples were classified according to the basic and subordinate types by Oya's classification. Results obtained are summarized as follows: 1. Clear hair cuticular scale impressions are easily obtained by microprinting method using lacquer or nail varnish as printing medium. 2. Scalp hair: 1)Basic types: From root to 1cm . the majority of samples showed type I. Type II appeared mostly between 3 and 4 cm. Type III appeared uniformly between 1 and 11 cm, but sparsely compared to other types. Type IV appeared uniformly between 1 and 12 cm 2)Subordinate types: The subordinate types appeared less frequently than basic types. Type A was comparatively numerous between 2 and 3cm. Type B appeared evenly from 1 to 11 cm, except that it reached a special peak at 5 cm. Type C appeared between 1 and 5 cm, but sparsely compared to other types. Type D was sparse until 10cm, but then rose steeply until 15 cm. 3) The complexity of hair cuticular scale impressions increases from the root to the end of hair. 4) Regional differences : Vertex hairs are much more complex than hair from other regions, except that type D appeared much more often in the occipital region. 5) Hair cuticular scale impressions are much more complex in women than men. 6) Age differences: In the newborn infant only type I can be found but from 30 days onwards complexity increases steadily. 7) Hair cuticular scale impressions bear no relation to the color of the hair. 3. Axiilary hair : In the axillary hair type III does not appear and after 1 cm. Type IV is predominant. 4. Pubic hair: In the 1 cm of pubic hair type II is exactly double type I, and in pubic hair as a whole the proportion of basic types to subordinate types is especially high. 5. Leg hair: Type II and type IV predominate and of the subordinate types only A and B appear and these very sparsely. 6. In eye-brow: Type I appears most at the root and type II toward the distal portion. 7. In nose hair : Type I and II predominate and type D is especially numerous at the root. 8. Very slight differences appeared between the Korean and foreign samples. 9. Hairs of dead people bear the same hair cuticular scales as those of the living but the impressions are fainter. 10. Although it is possible to distinguish infallibly on the basis of cuticular scale impressions alone.
