1 citations
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July 2023 in “Psychoneuroendocrinology” Hair cortisol is a reliable marker of long-term cortisol levels and is linked to daytime saliva cortisol but not morning levels.
January 2017 in “Qucosa (Saxon State and University Library Dresden)” Plasma protein binding significantly affects glucocorticosteroid concentration in blood, saliva, and hair.
9 citations
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April 2016 in “Clinical Endocrinology” Scalp hair 17-OHP and androstenedione levels can help monitor treatment in CAH patients.
July 2025 in “International Journal of Dermatology Venereology and Leprosy Sciences” Higher stress levels may worsen alopecia areata, suggesting stress management is important for treatment.
June 2020 in “Authorea (Authorea)” First-time mothers had higher stress hormone levels in late pregnancy than mothers who had given birth before.
50 citations
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November 2020 in “Physiology & behavior” People with depression often have higher hair cortisol levels, while those with PTSD tend to have lower levels, but more research is needed to understand this fully.
February 2026 in “Psychoneuroendocrinology” Hair cortisol concentration partly reflects HPA axis regulation but doesn't capture all its complexities.
January 2026 in “Psychoneuroendocrinology” Lye relaxers don't significantly change hair cortisol levels.
May 2023 in “Animal Reproduction Update” High levels of cortisol in hair show long-term stress which can lower fertility in animals.
11 citations
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April 2020 in “Animals” Moving horses to new places can increase their stress levels, as shown by higher stress hormone in their hair.
118 citations
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October 2014 in “Journal of Dairy Science” Tail switch hair is best for measuring cortisol in Holstein cows, with white hair and multiparous cows showing higher levels.
33 citations
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January 2017 in “Psychoneuroendocrinology” Hair dyeing and washing frequency do not affect hair cortisol levels.
24 citations
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October 2018 in “Addiction Biology” Alcohol dependence affects stress hormone levels more than childhood maltreatment.
22 citations
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August 2016 in “European Eating Disorders Review” Adolescent girls with anorexia nervosa have lower hair cortisol levels than healthy and psychiatric peers.
21 citations
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January 2017 in “MethodsX” Methanol is better than isopropanol for washing grizzly bear hair to measure cortisol.
122 citations
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October 2010 in “Clinica Chimica Acta” Washing hair with water or shampoo lowers cortisol levels in hair.
90 citations
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July 2014 in “Conservation Physiology” Hair cortisol levels in brown bears can be affected by both long-term and short-term stress.
October 2025 in “Journal of Veterinary Diagnostic Investigation” Black hair in cats has higher cortisol levels than white hair.
Hair hormone levels can indicate stress after a medically indicated abortion.
22 citations
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January 2010 in “Clinical Medicine Insights Endocrinology and Diabetes” Forearm hair has more cortisol than lower leg hair.
Wildebeest stress and hormone levels are influenced by food availability, human presence, and reproductive cycles.
157 citations
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June 2015 in “Psychoneuroendocrinology” Hair cortisol and cortisone levels increase with age, are higher in diabetics, vary by gender, decrease with frequent hair washing, and are lower in winter.
69 citations
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May 2016 in “General and Comparative Endocrinology” External factors can significantly affect hair cortisol levels, so it's not always a reliable stress marker.
August 2021 in “Asian Journal of Pharmaceutical and Clinical Research” Plant extracts in shampoo improved hair thickness and density in men with hair loss.
10 citations
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September 2019 in “Frontiers in Veterinary Science” Older steers have higher hair cortisol levels than younger steers.
May 2023 in “General and comparative endocrinology” Monkey hair cortisol levels are not affected by how fast their hair grows.
January 2018 in “Digital Scholarship - UNLV (University of Nevada Reno)” Hair cortisol levels can indicate chronic stress in children, with differences seen between races.
9 citations
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February 2020 in “Stress” Children with lower inhibitory control experience more stress when starting third grade.
21 citations
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January 2020 in “Conservation Physiology” Hair follicles increase hair cortisol levels, so consistent hair collection methods are important.
16 citations
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January 2021 in “Frontiers in veterinary science” Pigs in farrowing crates and loose-housing systems showed no difference in chronic stress levels as measured by hair cortisol.