Cell kinetics of the human anagen hair follicle. Flow cytometric studies in healthy and psoriatic subjects.

Anagen hair follicles obtained from both healthy (n = 7) and uninvolved psoriatic (n = 4) scalps were segmentally analyzed for proliferative activity using DNA flow cytometry. Hair follicle kinetics were almost equal in either group except for the infundibular portion which exhibited significant increase of S-phase values in psoriatic patients. Maximum proliferation was disclosed within the bulbar segment. This study confirms that cell kinetics behavior of hair follicles from uninvolved scalp of psoriatics compared with those from healthy scalps is altered in the infundibular portion only.