A Pubic Hair Is 172 Times More Pubic Than a Scalp Hair

This study developed a proteomics-based approach to distinguish scalp hair from pubic hair, which is important for contamination source investigation in GMP-controlled manufacturing environments. The research identified specific keratin-associated proteins, with KAP 4-3 and KAP 9-6 enriched in scalp hair, and cuticular keratins Ha7 and Ha8 enriched in pubic hair. Additionally, scalp hair proteins were found to be cysteine-rich, while pubic hair proteins had characteristics of structural keratin filaments. These findings suggest that proteomic signatures can provide a quantitative and objective method for determining the anatomical origin of human hair, aiding in contamination tracing and forensic investigations.