Histopathology of aging of the hair follicle.

Angel Fernandez-Flores, Marcela Saeb-Lima, David S Cassarino

Journal: Journal of cutaneous pathology 2019;46(7):508-519

PMID: 30932205

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Abstract

Hair follicles experience several changes with aging, the most noticeable of which is graying of the hair shaft due to loss of melanin. Additional changes in the diameter and length of the hair have contributed to the concept of senescent alopecia, which is different from androgenetic alopecia according to most. Graying happens in most individuals, although in different grades and starting at different ages. It is related to a decrease in the number and activity of the melanocytes of the hair bulb, which eventually completely disappear from the bulb of the white hair. Residual non-active melanocytes remain in the outer root sheath and in the bulge, which allows for repigmentation of the hair under certain stimuli or conditions.

Address: Department of Cellular Pathology, Hospital El Bierzo, Ponferrada, Spain.; Department of the CellCOM-SB Research Group, Biomedical Investigation Institute of A Coruña, A Coruña, Spain.; Department of Cellular Pathology, Hospital de la Reina, Ponferrada, Spain.; Department of Dermatology, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, Mexico City, Mexico.; Department of Dermatopathology, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, Mexico City, Mexico.; Department of Pathology, Los Angeles Medical Center (LAMC), Southern California Kaiser Permanente, Los Angeles, California.

DOI: 10.1111/cup.13467

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MeSH Terms: Aging, Alopecia, Female, Hair Color, Hair Follicle, Humans, Male, Melanins, Melanocytes