title: Diseases that turn African hair silky.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  African hair in its natural state poses tenacious grooming challenges; consequently a large portion of the African cosmetic industry is focused on means to relax the tight curls of African hair to make the hair more manageable. In malnourished and hypoproteinemic states, African hair straightens in an uncomplimentary manner. Recently, we observed that in certain diseases African hair changes to a desirable silky wavy texture.
  
  
  METHODS
  To identify the diseases that turn African hair silky and their parameters we examined 5612 dermatology patients at a tertiary hospital in Nigeria. We then studied the clinical and basic laboratory parameters of those patients whose diseases were accompanied by the silky hair change.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Silky hair change similar to the hair of the African neonatal child was observed in five diseases, namely AIDS, rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, pulmonary tuberculosis with cachexia, and Behçet's disease.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study identified retrogression of African hair to the neonatal structure in five diseases. Anemia of chronic illness, high erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and mild hypocalcemia were significant laboratory parameters. This is an important observation, which should excite and advance research into the nature and structure of African hair. The causes of structural hair changes should include these five diseases.
authors.affiliation: Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Lagos, Nigeria. francesajose@yahoo.co.uk
authors.forename: Frances O A
authors.initials: FO
authors.lastname: Ajose
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000208:ethnology; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001528:Behcet Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000208:ethnology; D044383:Black People; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006197:Hair / Q000473:pathology*; D006201:Hair Diseases / Q000208:ethnology / Q000209:etiology*; D006203:Hair Preparations / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000150:complications / Q000208:ethnology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009549:Nigeria; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012213:Rheumatic Fever / Q000150:complications / Q000208:ethnology; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000150:complications / Q000208:ethnology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D006203:Hair Preparations