P-13   HAIR BARRIER IN HUMAN SCALP HAIR FOLLICLE: ULTRASTRUCTURAL IMPORTANCE OF LIPID LAYER

W-S Lee, S. Lee, E. Lee, YH Kim. Department of Dermatology and Institute of Hair and Cosmetic Medicine, Yonsei University Wonju College of Medicine, Wonju, Korea.

It has known that human hair also contains lipids like as interfollicular stratum corneum. This lipid layer is attached to the outer surface of a cross-linked layer of protein at the cell periphery. Follicles were obtained from the occipital region of the scalp, which were not under influence of anagen hormone. The specimens were stained using typical methods of oil red O, Holzinger’s copper-rubeanic acid modification, perchloric acid-naphthoquinone reaction. Electron microscopic examination also was done to confirm the previous results of special stain. The conventional electron microscopic method cannot reveal the lipid layer, so we set up new formulation of fixative (Lee’s fixative). The present results demonstrate that the lipids of the hair follicle are located on the hair cuticle and the keratinized area of the IRS. They can act as a barrier of the hair follicle.