Age-related changes in hair structure in the parietal region of men

BACKGROUND: The study of age-related changes in the hair bulb and shaft is relevant due to the lack of data distinguishing normal from pathological hair characteristics across different age groups. AIM: This study aimed to assess changes in hair bulb and shaft parameters in the parietal region across different male age groups. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study was based on microscopic examination of hair samples from 77 men who underwent evaluation at a medical center in Perm,in 2022–2023, specializing in the treatment of hair and scalp conditions. Participants were divided into three groups based on age. group 1 included 25 men aged 21 to 35 years (young adults). group 2 consisted of 27 men aged 36 to 59 years (middle-aged adults). group 3 included 25 men aged 61 to 74 years (elderly). Hair samples were obtained from the parietal region by gently extracting hairs in the late telogen phase, which were easily detached from the scalp and had fully developed bulbs and shafts. The width of the hair bulb and shaft was measured under a microscope. The width of the hair bulb was measured under a microscope as a line perpendicular to the shaft connecting the most distant points of the bulb. To determine shaft width, the height of the bulb was first measured as the distance from the most prominent point of the hair root to a perpendicular line connecting the narrowest part of the bulb. The shaft width was then measured at a distance from the narrowest point of the bulb equal to its height. It was defined as a line parallel to the bulb width, connecting the opposite sides of the hair shaft. Statistical analysis was performed using Student’s t test. Differences were considered statistically significant at p 0.05. RESULTS: A 1.3% decrease in hair bulb width was observed from young to middle adulthood (p = 0.7597). A similar trend was observed from middle to older adulthood, with a 3.3% reduction in hair bulb width (p = 0.4853). No significant age-related changes in shaft width were observed. A 3.8% decrease was noted from young to middle adulthood (p = 0.4995), and a 2.2% decrease from middle to older adulthood (p = 0.6488). CONCLUSION: Despite age-related vascular changes, the thickness of the hair bulb and shaft in the parietal region remains largely stable.