Nail and hair disorders in the elderly

Abstract

In the United States, people over 65 years of age represent almost 13% of the population, while in Brazil this is around 6% [1, 2]. The aging of the skin and its appendages is a complex phenomenon comprising genetic, endocrinological, immune and environmental factors added to free radicals generation. There is reduction of the number of keratinocytes, fibroblasts, and of the vascular network, particularly around hair bulbs and glands, resulting in decrease in hair and nail growth [3, 4]. The number of hair follicles, the rate of growth and diameter of hair, all are affected by age. The rate of growth of nails declines, the nail plate becomes thick and lunula size decrease [5'8]. Achten [9] and others [10'12] noted that the nail unit was comparable in some respects to a hair follicle. The hair bulb is similar to the intermediate nail matrix and the cortex to the nail plate. The hair bulb was considered analogous to the intermediate nail matrix and the cortex to the nail plate. The nail unit could be seen as an unfolded form of the hair follicle, producing a hair with no cortex, just hard cuticle. Diseases influence nail growth as seen in many statistical studies; and the nail analysis can be compared to a blood test in evaluating the general health of an individual [13]. © Springer-Verlag London Limited 2008.