Scanning Electron Microscopy of Terminal Parts of Hair in Indian Girls.

Scanning electron microscopy of the terminal part of hair taken from Indian girls who complained of terminal splitting of their hair, shortening of the hair lengths and loss of small fragments of hair, revealed longitudinal splitting of the terminal part of the hair into two fragments characteristic of trichoptilosis. In addition these hair had a localized spot a few millimeters proximal to the distal end of the hair which revealed splintering of the hair shaft into multiple fragments which joined again at a lower level. These changes are characteristic of trichorrhexis nodosa and this is considered to be responsible for the breakage and loss of small fragments of hair.