[Circadian chronophysiology of the scalp]

Biological rhythms are numerous and vary according to periodicity and amplitude. Variations over the course of a day, particularly circadian rhythms have been reported in the skin of the face and forearms. However, little information is available about daily biorhythms of the scalp. The aim of the present study was to explore the chronophysiology of the scalp. We report a series of diurnal rhythms in 8 Caucasian men using the plexogram method at 4-h intervals over a 5-day period. Statistically significant biorhythms were found for the colour, hydration, barrier function and pH of the skin, and for the sebum excretion as well. The early afternoon was the time of maximum increase in redness, hydration, pH and sebum output, combined with decreased skin barrier function. The amplitude of some of these biorhythms was so discrete that their clinical relevance remained uncertain even when they appeared statistically significant. In view of the apparent synchronization between them, it is likely that a central oscillator exerts a major influence. However, only rare subjects exhibited biorhythms for all the considered physiological parameters. Hence, peripheral reactivity and/or environmental synchronizers also play an important role to define the good and bad respondors to the potential biorhythms of each individual parameter.