The human hair shaft from the root to tip can deteriorate very severely. Cosmetic products, as well as environmental factors, lead to this damage. One such congenital hair shaft disorder associated with fragile fibers is Monilethrix. The researchers studied this condition under light and scanning electron microscopes. The hair modifications were similar to other types of shaft damages. In this study, Monilethrix was a model to relate hair protein profiles with cosmetic damages.
The hair protein structure and strength can resist cosmetic damages. This relationship got studied and further investigated using the Monilethrix paradigm. Chemical oxidative damage to hair gets assessed thoroughly. The researchers used proteomic or large scale protein study techniques to identify novel peptide damage markers. The methods include complex protein fractions, mass spectroscopy, and data analysis using bioinformatics.
The study revealed specific sites in hair protein structure as damage targets. Oxidative damage happens due to bleaching, and it compromises the hair shaft’s structural strength and integrity. The molecular-level understanding of this disruption presents novel insights into hair fragility, modifications, and structural deficiencies.
Proteomics can get effectively applied in the study of congenital and acquired hair shaft damages. The results provide innovative insights into the nature of hair damage. Researchers can create modern and effective strategies to strengthen the hair.
Ref: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1365-2133.2012.10862.x
