Histopathologic Findings of Horizontal Sections of Normal Scalp from Korean Females

Kim, Chan Woo; Shin, Dong Hoon; Choi, Jong Soo; Kim, Ki Hong; Kim, Keuk Jun

Abstract

BACKGROUND: To date there has not been a study of the histologic data of hair pollicles in scalp hairs of healthy Korean female adults. It is better to evaluate follicular structures in horizontal histologic sectioning than in vertical sectioning.
OBJECTIVE
To obtain histologic data of hair follicles in scalp hairs in healthy Korean female adults.
METHODS
20 healthy Korean female volunteers with a normal scalp were analyzed. The age range was 22~29 years (mean 25.7+/-2.3). Transverse sections of 4 mm punch biposy specimens from the vertex were examined at various levels from the papillary dermis to the subcutis. Follicular counts of terminal/vellus hairs and anagen/ telogen hair were evaluated.
RESULTS
The total number of total hairs, terminal hairs, vellus hairs, average follicular units, and follicular structures/ mm(2) were 17.5+/-2.6, 15.8+/-2.5, 1.8+/-0.7, 9.0+/-1.6, and 1.4+/-0.2 respectively. Terminal hair:vellus hair ratio was 9:1 and percentage of anagen hairs among total hairs was 95%. Hair density in Korean female was found be significantly lower than that of white females and African American females.
CONCLUSION
This data can be used as a guideline for interpreting transverse sections of scalp biopsy specimens in Korean female adults.