Expert: Michael S. Fisher, <B>Ph.D., M.D.</B> - 9/28/2006

Question
My son is doing a science fair project to compare hair and see if hair thins in diameter with age and we are trying to gather information that will aid in his completing a wonderfully researched paper. He is collecting hair from different age groups to compare under a microscope to see if he can detect a change or thinning that may come with age changes. Any help you can give us in this matter will be greatly appreciated. Julie

Answer
In men and women with female and male pattern hair loss which is genetic the diameter of the hair shaft decreases in size.  The word the pathologists use is miniturize. Eventually the hair diameter will miniturize out of existance. Thus, your son has to be very careful to measure only those individuals without male or female pattern hair loss otherwise your sons project will not be valid.