P#60  Green hair

Alfredo Rossi, Paola Bonaccorsi, Marta Carlesimo, Luca Barbieri and Stefano Calvieri. Dept of Dermatology and Plastic Surgery, University "La Sapienza", Rome Italy

Green hair is a rare hair disorder characterized by green discoloration of the hair. It is due to copper deposit in the hair cortex and external sources can be running water, swimming pools, shampoos and drugs. It is usually found in blond haired subjects most commonly as a consequence of contamined running water or swimming pools. Previous hair damage such is an essential prerequisite for copper deposition. This may be caused by mechanical trauma, sun damage, bleaching, dyeing, waving, frequent contact with chlorinated waters, aggressive shampoos. The authors report a case of green hair and present the results of a scanning electron microscopy and microanalytic study conducted on the hair shaft.