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The Pharmacist Answers Podcast

Your health is probably one of the most important things to you.  Yet it can be one of the most complicated things to understand.  Our bodies are meant to work a certain way, but when they don't, we may never be 100% sure why or what to do about it - even after seeing a healthcare professional.

The Pharmacist Answers Podcast is hosted by Cynthia Hendrix, PharmD.  On the Podcast, you can learn the basics of body parts and organ groups, get a glimpse of how disease processes work, and learn some practical steps to take in your own flesh and blood relationships with healthcare providers.

Everyone's health story is different.  No one is truly a "textbook case".  You need someone who sees your uniqueness and help you gain the knowledge and confidence to have conversations, ask questions, and make decisions that are right for YOU!

*The Podcast started out as live conversations on Periscope.

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  2. Episode 52 - Hair 101

Episode 52 - Hair 101

Jul 6, 2016

Key Words

  • Keratin = a fibrous protein that cells make when they are about to die.
  • Cornification = the process of a cell filling up with Keratin and becoming hard.
  • Follicle = the hole in the skin where they hair grows out
  • Melanin = a protein that adds color to cells of the body (most familiar because they help skin tan)

hair bulb

Hair Basics

Arrector pili = the muscle that makes your hairs stand up

Fingernails and hair are made out of keratinized cells.  Nails are harder to protect the more tender skin below (and are a primitive tool).  Hair is tightly stacked but more flexible.

Because hair grows when cells lining the follicles fill up with keratin and die, it grows from your scalp, rather than being added to the ends.  Your hair and nails are dead cells so they don't absorb nutrients or feel, although it can absorb and lose moisture (thus conditioner is important).

Cells in the bulb divide every 23-72 hours.

Straight or curly is determined by the shape of the follicle.  Symmetrical = straight, asymmetrical = curly.  Square follicles is a myth.

There are 2 types of melanin - eumelanin = dark colors; pheomelanin = light.  Genetics determines what ratio of each type your skin produces thus determines the color of your hair.  Gray hair is produced when the cells are absent of all melanin types.

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Music Credits:  "Radio Martini" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)  Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0  http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/