<ScientifiC Reports | (2018) 8:9017 | DOI:10.1038/s41598-018-27100-1>
These authors point out that the skin is a complex living ecosystem harboring diverse microbial communities. Its highly variable properties and influence of intrinsic and extrinsic factors creates unique microenvironments where niche-specific microbes thrive. As part of the skin, hair supports its own microbial habitat that is also intra and inter-personal variable.
They explored the hair microbiota from scalp and pubic regions in healthy adults to investigate how the hair shaft microenvironment varies microbially. Their results suggest that there are distinct differences between the microbial communities identified on hair shafts originating from different parts of the body. The taxonomic composition of the communities from different hair sources are most reminiscent of those identified from their associated cutaneous region.
Their study confirms that human hair shafts harbor unique bacterial communities, distinctive from that of the hair follicle and more reminiscent of its associated cutaneous region. Staphylococcus, a common genera found in the skin, was also found to be abundant in hair. However, Propionibacterium, a predominant bacterium that colonizes the skin and hair follicles, is noticeably absent in hair samples. The hair shaft environment may be unfavorable for growth of Propionibacterium which prefer low oxygen levels and high sebum content as that of the hair follicle.
Comment: This study suggests that hair removal may not be of major benefit in reducing the risk of Propionibacterium colonization of a surgical wound.
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