Hair in psoriasis: a prospective, blinded scanning electron microscopic study.
We examined hairs from psoriatic plaques by scanning electron microscopy, and compared the morphological changes in the hairs with those from the corresponding nonlesional skin of the same patients and those from healthy subjects, in a observer-blinded prospective study. Micropits or macropits (sharply demarcated defects on the cuticle < 0.5 microm or > 0.5 microm, respectively, in diameter), dystrophy (areas showing generalized roughness and ragged appearance of the cuticle), upturned edges of cuticular cells, transverse and longitudinal fissures were seen in varying frequency in all three groups. Micropits were significantly more frequent in the lesional hair compared with hair from the nonlesional area and controls. Dystrophic changes were significantly more severe in lesional hairs compared with hair from the nonlesional area. Upturning of cuticular edges was more frequent (but not significantly so) in hair from psoriatic plaques. The presence of micropits and hair dystrophy could contribute to the thinning and loss of hair in the psoriatic plaques.
Kumar
B
B
Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education & Research, Chandigarh, India. kumarbhushan@hotmail.com
Soni
A
A
Saraswat
A
A
Kaur
I
I
Dogra
S
S
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006197:Hair / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D008875:Middle Aged; D015588:Observer Variation; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000473:pathology*