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Updated: Mar 10, 2026

Collecting Hair Samples for Hair Cortisol Analysis in African Americans
Published on: June 10, 2018
Evolution of skin and hair in African Americans
Angela Kyei1,2, Sara Hogan3
1Cleveland Clinic, Dermatology & Plastic Surgery Institute, Cleveland, Ohio, USA. kyeiA@ccf.org.
Abstract:
Current demographic trends in the United States highlight the growing population of those who identify as having "skin of color." As such, dermatologists must have a greater comfort level and knowledge in treating some of the unique skin and hair conditions seen in this population. Understanding the scientific basis for the evolution of skin color and hair texture is necessary in order to understand the variations in the characteristics of skin and hair seen among racial and ethnic groups. This review seeks to highlight the current scientific explanation of skin color and hair texture, with special attention to people of African descent, in an attempt to give insight into the clinical presentations of hair and skin disorders seen in this group.
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