A condition of abnormal growth of hair, characterized by the growth of terminal hair in areas of the body that normally grow only vellus hair.
Hypertrichosis/Hirsuties
Technical term for dandruff; characteerized by excessive production and accumulation of skin cells
Pityrasis
Naturally ocuring fungus that is present on all human skin, but is responsible for dandruff when it grows out of control.
Malassezia
Technical Term for brittle hair.
Fragilitas crinium
Technical term for beaded hair.
Monilethrix
A weak, physical, cross-link side bond between adjacent polypeptide chains.
Salt bond
Thickness or diameter of the individual hair strand.
Hair texture
The thickened, club-like structure that forms the lower part of the hair root.
Hair bulb
A small, cone-shaped elevation located at the base of the hair follicle that fits into the hair bulb.
Dermal papilla
A fatty or oily substance secreted by the sebaceous glands that lubricates the skin.
Sebum
Infestation of the hair and scalp with head lice.
Pediculosis capitis
Scientific study of hair and its diseases and care.
Trichology
Units that are joined together end-to-end like pop beads by strong, chemical peptide bonds (end bonds) to form the polypeptide chains that comprise proteins.
Amino Acids
Technical term for classic dandruff; characterized by scalp irritation, large flakes, and itchy scalp.
Pityriasis capitis simplex
Sever case of dandruff characterized by an accumulation of greasy or waxy scales mixed with sebum that stick to the scalp in crusts.
Pityriasis steatoides
Technical term for gray hair.
Canities
Inner most layer of the hair that is composed of round cells; often absent in fine and naturally blond hair.
Medulla
Technical term for split ends.
Trichoptilosis
A weak, physical, cross-link side bond that is easily broken by water or heat.
Hydrogen bond
Easily absorbs moisture (water-loving)
Hydrophilic
The shape of the hair strands.
Wave pattern
Hair stream that forms in a circular pattern on the crown of the head.
Whorl
Autoimmune disorder that causes the affected hair follicles to be mistakenly attacked by a person's own immune system.
Alopecia Areata
Long, coarse pigmented hair found on the scalp, legs, arms and bodies of males and females.
Terminal hair
Dry, sulfur-yellow, cuplike crusts on the scalp in tinea favosa.
Scutula
The portion of the hair that projects above the epidermis.
Hair shaft
A fibrourus protein that grows from cells originating within the hair follicle.
Keratin
The part of the hair located below the surface of the epidermis.
Hair root
Technical term for knotted hair.
Trichorrhexis nodosa
Also know as lanugo hair; short fine unpigmented and downy hair that appears on the body, with the exception of the palms of the hands and soles of the feet.
Vellus hair
Boil; acute, localized bacterial infection of the hair follicle that produces constant pain.
Furuncle
Inflammation of the subcutaneous tissue caused by staphylococci.
Carbuncle
The tube-like depression or pocket in the skin or scalp that contains the hair root.
Hair follicle
The small, involuntary muscle in the base of the hair follicle.
Arrector pili muscle
Strong chemical side bonde that joins the sulfur atoms of two neighboring cystein amino acids to create one cysteine, which joins togehter two polypeptide strands like the rungs on a ladder.
Disulfide Bond
Hair loss characterized by miniaturization of terminal hair that is converted to vellus hair.
Androgenic Alopecia
Technical term for ringworm.
Tinea
Chemical bond that joins amino acids to each other, end-to-end, to form a polypeptide chain.
Peptide bond
Process by which newly formed cells in the hair bulb mature, fill with keratin, move upward, lose their nucleus and die.
Keratinization
Spiral shape of a coiled protein created by polypeptide chains that intertwine with each other.
Helix
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