The worldwide diversity of scalp seborrhoea, as daily experienced by seven human ethnic groups

Abstract

Objective

The re-greasing process and kinetics of the human scalp, post shampooing, has been previously documented, in vivo, on a few Caucasian subjects. The objective of the presented research is to extend such knowledge over 7 different ethnic groups.

Methods

The post shampooing re-greasing kinetics of the scalp was studied on 1325 subjects (women and men of two distinct age classes) from 7 different ethnic groups in their residential and native country. Sebum amounts were determined onto small shaved scalp areas at various times post shampooing, using the Sebumeter^® technique.

Results

As previously published on Caucasian subjects, scalp re-greasing process follows a hyperbolic-like kinetics over days. However, amounts of collected sebum highly vary with ethnicity. As recorded through the Casual Level (CL) at the equilibrium phase, 2 to 3 days post-shampooing, the highest amount of sebum was found in African American subjects, followed in descending order by Caucasian American, Japanese, Chinese, Thai, Caucasian European and Indian subjects, the latter showing very low values. Lower amounts of sebum were recorded in the older age-class in all ethnics, as compared to the younger one and male subjects were found higher sebum producers than women, irrespective of ethnicity.

Conclusion

The kinetics and slopes of the re-greasing process of the human scalp appear similar in all ethnic groups studied. Despite, striking quantitative differences are found between the 7 ethnic groups, resulting from different sebaceous production levels and scalp hygiene routines.

This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

http://ift.tt/2grUkgz