Laser hair removal Flashcards
The three anatomical units of the hair follicle are the infundibulum, isthmus and inferior segment
T
The infundibulum is the region from the hair follicle orifice to the arrector pili muscle.
F Hair follicle orifice to sebaceous duct entrance.
The isthmus is the region between the entrance of the sebaceous duct and the arrector pili muscle.
T
The inferior segment extends from the insertion of the arrector pili muscle to the base of the follicle, including the hair bulb.
T
The hair bulb is composed of matrix cells only.
F Interspersed melanocytes also.
The matrix cells of the hair bulb form the outer root sheath, the inner root sheath and the hair shaft itself.
T
The inner root sheath (from the outside inward) consists of three layers: cuticle, Huxley and Henle.
F From outside inward – Henle, Huxley and cuticle.
The three layers of the hair shaft (from the outside inward) are: cuticle of the hair shaft, cortex and medulla.
T
The lowermost aspect of the permanent part of the hair follicle is at the level of the insertion of the arrector pili muscle (the follicular bulge)
T
The anagen phase of the hair growth cycle refers to the transition period in which the bulbar part of the hair follicle, including matrical melanocytes, is almost totally degraded through apoptosis.
F This is the catagen phase.
The anagen phase refers to periods of active growth, where the rapidly developing bulbar matrix cells differentiate into the hair shaft and inner root sheath.
T
Anagen bulbs are 12-17mm below the skin surface.
F 2-7mm.
Telogen refers to a resting phase in the hair growth cycle.
T
During telogen, the follicle decreases to approximately one-third of its former length, with the lowermost part coming to lie at the level of attachment of the dermal papilla.
F This occurs during catagen.
With new hair regrowth in early anagen, new epithelial cell division occurs near the arrector pili insertion, a new matrix develops, and hair growth resumes.
t
A population of stem cells capable of regenerating the follicle is within or near the hair bulb matrix.
T
There is a population of slow-cycling stem cells in the follicular bulge that arise off the outer root sheath at the site of the arrector pili muscle attachment, approx 1mm below the skin surface
T
Body sites with long hair (eg. scalp) have a prolonged telogen phase.
F Prolonged anagen phase.
Body sites with short hair (eg. female upper lip) have a short anagen phase.
T And prolonged telogen phase.
Duration of anagen growth of the upper lip is typically 16 weeks, catagen 1 week, and telogen 6 weeks.
T
The duration of anagen growth on the scalp is generally 150 weeks, catagen 1-3 weeks, and telogen 12 weeks.
T
There is no seasonal variation in hair growth in humans.
F Higher rate of growth in summer.
Variability in hair growth rates correlates with fluctuations in androgen levels.
T
There are two main types of hair: vellus and terminal.
F Three – also lanugo.
Hair diameter is determined by the size of the papilla and hair bulb.
T
Lanugo hairs are non-pigmented.
F Vellus hairs are non-pigmented.
Lanugo hairs are soft, fine hairs that cover a foetus. They are shed before or shortly after birth.
T
Secondary vellus hairs don’t have the same diameter as vellus hairs.
F They do.
Secondary vellus hairs represent miniaturised or hypoplastic lanugo hairs.
F Miniaturised or hypoplastic terminal hairs.
Secondary vellus hairs are non-pigmented.
F They are pigmented.
Both vellus and terminal hairs go through all stages of follicular growth, but the duration of anagen is much shorter for vellus hairs.
T
Vellus hairs are replaced by terminal hairs at puberty.
T
Terminal hairs are converted to secondary vellus hairs with androgenetic alopecia.
T
Vellus hair bulbs may extend 2-7mm into skin.
F Less than 1mm into skin.
Telogen hair bulbs may extend 10mm into skin.
F 2-7mm into skin.
The hair bulge maintains a constant depth throughout the hair cycle.
T
Follicular melanocytes produce two types of melanin – eumelanin (brown-black pigment) and pheomelanin (red pigment).
T
Melanocytes occur in the hair papilla/matrix.
F In the upper part of the hair bulb and outer root sheath of the infundibulum.
The ratio of melanocytes to keratinocytes in hair is 1:5.
T
Melanogenesis is halted during anagen and reinitiated during early catagen.
F Halted during catagen, reinitiated during early anagen.
Pigment transfer is halted during catagen, resulting in an unpigmented hair bulb.
F Halted during telogen – results in unpigmented telogen bulb.
Pheomelanin absorption is 30 times lower than eumelanin at 694nm and is poorly absorbed at wavelengths longer than 700nm
T
Brown and black hair contains ellipsoidal heavily melanised eumelanosomes.
T
Red hair contains incompletely melanised melanosomes or fewer melanosomes.
F This is true of blonde hair.
Red hair contains spherical pheomelanosomes.
T
Grey hair-producing follicles contain few melanocytes, with poorly melanised melanosomes.
T
White hair-producing follicles contain no dopa-positive melanocytes.
T
Tweezing and waxing can cause post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, ingrown hairs, folliculitis and scarring.
T
Chemical depilatories provide permanent hair removal by destroying the entire hair shaft below the skin surface.
F Temporary hair removal by dissolving hairs by disruption of disulphide bonds.
Antiandrogenic medications can provide permanent hair loss.
F Only partial and temporary hair loss.
Vaniqa is 5% eflornithine hydrochloride cream.
F 13.9%
Vaniqa acts as an irreversible inhibitor of ornithine decarboxylase, an enzyme that is critical for the biosynthesis of cationic polyamines which are necessary for cell growth.
T
Ornithine decarboxylase is expressed in the proliferating bulb cells of anagen hair follicles.
T
Vaniqa should be applied once every 2nd day.
F Twice daily.
temporary hair loss - grows back when stop using
The side effects of Vaniqa are minimal.
F Stinging, burning, acne, folliculitis.
Electrolysis can be used to destroy the hair follicle.
T
Electrolysis has an efficacy of 70-80% for destroying individual hair follicles.
F 30-40%.
Electrolysis can result in post-inflammatory hypopigmentation, hyperpigmentation and ice-pick scarring.
T
Laser hair removal is advocated in pregnant women.
F Best avoided, although no evidence it harms the foetus.
A past history of HSV at or near the laser treatment site requires prophylactic antiviral therapy.
T
A history of keloids or hypertrophic scar formation may preclude the use of lasers for hair removal.
T
Laser treatment should be avoided in patients taking photosensitising medications.
T
Laser treatment can be used safely within 1 month of cessation of isotretinoin.
F 6 months.