Hair (Human Anatomy): Image, Functions, Diseases, and Treatments

Even though it has a very simple structure, hair plays a very significant part in the operation of social systems. Keratin, a very durable protein, is what makes up their structure. They are thin, filamentous projections that emerge from the epidermis, the topmost layer of the skin. a follicle of hair The hair follicle is a tube-like pocket that is found in the epidermis. At its base, it encloses a tiny part of the dermis.

A hair follicle is made up of two components: the shaft, which is visible on the surface of the skin, and the root, which is buried in a cavity (follicle) just below the skin's surface and is also known as the hair bulb.Living cells inside the hair bulb proliferate and multiply in order to construct the hair shaft. A hair follicle is mostly composed of dead tissue, however it does include some live components.

The cells that make up the hair bulb get nourishment from blood vessels, and the hormones that are delivered by blood vessels change the development and structure of hair at various stages of life.

Hair growth cycle consists of 3 periods.

• Anagen/growth phase: During this particular phase, the majority of the hair will be grown. This period lasts for many years for each individual hair.
• Catagen/transitional phase: The length of time that the hair takes to develop and the size of the hair follicle both slow down at this time
• Telogen/resting phase: The process of new hair development is halted for a number of months, during which time the older hairs get detached from the hair follicles. After this, the process of new hair growth begins, which ultimately results in the loss of older hair.

Although the rate of hair growth varies from person to person, most people's hair grows around one-half inch every month on average. The pigment cells of the hair follicle are responsible for the production of melanin, which gives hair its colour. The loss of pigment cells that occurs with age is responsible for greying hair.

• Alopecia Areata: This is a condition that results in the creation of circular patches on the scalp and is characterised by a complete loss of hair. There is no clear understanding of what causes alopecia. After a certain number of treatments or sessions, the hair will often begin to come back.
• Male Pattern Baldness: This is the most prevalent kind of hair loss that occurs in males and is characterised by a pattern of hair loss known as male pattern baldness. The two most common signs of male pattern baldness are a thinning crown and a receding hairline, however the condition may sometimes affect both areas.
• Female Pattern Baldness: The term 'female pattern baldness' refers to a consistent thinning throughout the scalp that causes hair loss in women but leaves the hairline intact. Although the crown may be impacted, hair loss in women does not often progress to baldness in the same way that it does in males.
• Seborrheic Dermatitis: more often known as dandruff, is a chronic condition characterised by moderate inflammation of the scalp that, over time, leads to scaly skin that is prone to scratching and may even flake off. It is also possible for it to affect the cheeks and ears.
• Tinea Capitis: Tinea capitis, more often known as ringworm, is a fungal infection of the scalp that results in circular bald patches. Ringworm is a frequent name for this condition. Although the patches may take the form of rings without the presence of tinea capitis, this is not a common occurrence.
• Trichotillomania: Trichotillomania is a mental disease that causes an individual to have an uncontrollable impulse to pluck off their own hair. Trichotillomania is the name given to the bald patches that appear as a consequence of this condition. It has not been determined what caused it to take place as of now.
• Head Lices: lice are very little insects that may be found living on the scalp and feed on the blood of humans. It is possible for it to pass from one person to another. These head lice are quickly spread via close contact and may be caught by small children, children of primary school age, and even adults who reside with these youngsters.
• Telogen Effluvium: Telogen effluvium is the rapid loss of hair in tiny patches that may occur a month or two following a traumatic event in one's personal life. This kind of hair loss can be caused by childbirth, surgery, or extreme stress circumstances. Despite this, fresh hair begins to grow after a certain amount of time has passed.
• Postpartum Alopecia: The condition known as postpartum alopecia causes women to have considerable hair loss in the weeks and months following giving birth to a child. This is very normal and should not be confused with actual hair loss. despite the excessive amount of hair that is falling out. The sharp decline in oestrogen levels that occurs after pregnancy is to blame for this effect.
• Folliculitis: Folliculitis is the medical term for inflammation of the hair follicles, which may be caused by infections. In most cases, the bacterial infection known as folliculitis is caused by the staphylococcus aureus species. Inflammation is the root cause of acne and other forms of folliculitis, including acne. Infections with propionibacterium might sometimes cause it to get worse.
• Piedra: Piedra is the medical term for trichomycosis nodularis, which is a fungal infection of the hair shaft that causes hair loss. Piedra is caused by the formation of tough nodules composed by fungus that attach themselves to hair strands.
• Hirsutism: Hirsutism is the medical term for the disorder in which women produce hair in a pattern more typical of males, such as the emergence of facial hair. This is because of an abnormally high level of testosterone brought on by the medical condition that is responsible for the abnormal growth.

• Hair DNA testing: Hair follicles are capable of storing large amounts of DNA, making them useful for paternity testing and forensics.
• Hair Drug Testing: In addition to absorbing a wide range of illegal chemicals, hair is also able to take in their metabolic byproducts. Testing a strand of hair might reveal even recent drug use.
• Serum Calcium: A blood test for the mineral can tell you how much of it is currently circulating in your blood. Abnormal blood calcium levels can be a symptom of a wide variety of diseases, including a sudden loss of hair, Bone disease, thyroid illness, parathyroid abnormalities, renal disease, and others.
• Blood Tests: Tumors of the thymus can be detected using these. It can give an overall picture of health and help rule out other potential problems. Myasthenia gravis and other autoimmune diseases associated with thymic tumours are occasionally accompanied by the presence of particular antibodies.
• Repetitive Nerve Stimulation: In a nerve conduction test, electrodes are placed over target muscles. Doctors apply short electrical pulses using electrodes to measure nerve-muscle communication. Myasthenic individuals with muscle weakness and fatigue have a decremental RNS.
• Hair Analysis: An analysis of the individual's hair to search for any residues of potentially toxic compounds, such as lead or mercury, that may have been swallowed. The inconsistency of these tests makes it difficult to appropriately interpret the results, which is a major downside of these exams.

• Hair Transplants: During surgery, the skin and hair on the back of the scalp are removed, and then groups of hair follicles are transplanted to parts of the scalp with scant hair.
• Hair Electrolysis: A very thin needle is used to access a hair follicle, after which an electrical current is sent through the follicle. Because the follicle is destroyed by the electricity, hair growth is inhibited.
• Laser Hair Removal: The cells in the hair follicle are targeted using a laser, and the high intensity of the laser is used to kill those cells. This stops the formation of new hair.
• Topical or Systemic Treatment With Hormones: There is not enough data available at this time to support the use of natural estrogens, progesterone, or antiandrogens applied topically as a treatment for androgenetic alopecia in women who do not have hormonal dysregulation.
• Topical Immunotherapy: In reference to a therapy that is effective for alopecia areata The use of a topical immunotherapy solution containing diphenylcyclopropenone or squaric acid dibutylester has proven to be the most successful therapeutic option.
• Antimicrobial Shampooing: Antimicrobials are employed in an effort to reduce the number of staphylococci present. Treatment with a systemic antibiotic such as clarithromycin or doxycycline for four to eight weeks typically results in an improvement, although it is normal for the condition to return.
• Fluid Aspiration: If there are only a few fluctuating nodules, the initial therapy might be fluid aspiration followed by injection of triamcinolone crystal solution (10 mg/mL). Marked inflammation can be treated with a combination of systemic glucocorticoids and isotretinoin (0.5 mg/kg BW) or dapsone plus isotretinoin (30).
• Vitamin Supplements: They may be prescribed for dietary deficiencies such as vitamin D and vitamin B complex; multivitamin supplements containing lycopene and omega d3 are also beneficial in this regard.
• Behaviour Modification: Some hair diseases are caused by controllable conditions. Education or treatment can be used to address the behaviours that cause hair loss in traction alopecia and trichotillomania.

• Steroids for Reducing Inflammation of Hair: The use of topical Corticosteroids has considerably improved the management of various inflammatory skin diseases, such as psoriasis and atopic dermatitis.
• Analgesics for pain in Hair: Analgesics are pain relievers that also lower the quantity of prostaglandins produced by the body.
• Antibiotics for infection in Hair: Amoxicillin, ampicillin, and penicillin are the three types of antibiotics. If the patient's physician concludes that an infection is the primary source of the patient's discomfort, the patient will most likely be prescribed antibacterial medications to treat the condition.
• Nutritional supplements for promoting growth in Hair: glucosamine and chondroitin, which are two supplements that are typically prescribed by medical professionals. Supplements consisting of calcium and vitamin D might be recommended. Cholecalciferol is the form that it takes.
• Minoxidil (Rogaine): A medication that is administered to the scalp that, when taken on a regular basis, can help stop hair loss in the majority of people.
• Finasteride (Propecia): A treatment for men that comes in the shape of a tablet and is used on a daily basis. This medicine stops hair loss and regrows some hair in the majority of men who use it.
• Dutasteride: It does this by preventing the conversion of testosterone into dihydrotestosterone, which is the hormone responsible for hair loss (DHT). The end consequence is that dutasteride raises oestrogen and testosterone levels, but the increases that take place are still within the parameters of what is considered to be physiologically appropriate.