6 citations
,
February 2017 in “Case Reports in Dermatology” Hair loss led to the diagnosis of Cushing's disease in a patient, showing that hair loss can be a sign of hormonal disorders.
3 citations
,
December 2017 in “Journal of Psychiatric Research” Hair samples can't reliably detect hypercortisolism in anorexia nervosa patients.
January 2018 in “Karger Kompass” Skin symptoms like fragile skin and easy bruising can indicate Cushing's syndrome, which requires early diagnosis and treatment to prevent serious health issues.
July 2020 in “Endocrine practice” A 13-year-old boy with Cushing syndrome has high cortisol levels from a pituitary gland issue and underdeveloped sexual characteristics.
42 citations
,
November 2019 in “Frontiers in Endocrinology” The document suggests creating a validated score to diagnose Cushing's Syndrome and considers plasma steroid profiling as a simpler diagnostic method.
567 citations
,
October 2007 in “Clinical and investigative medicine” Hair cortisol can be used to measure long-term stress exposure.
September 2025 in “International Journal of Molecular Sciences” Hair analysis could help diagnose and treat schizophrenia more effectively.
May 2024 in “Journal of clinical case studies reviews & reports” A man's health improved after treating his undiagnosed adrenal insufficiency, which caused fatigue and weight loss.
May 2023 in “Animal Reproduction Update” High levels of cortisol in hair show long-term stress which can lower fertility in animals.
2 citations
,
December 2021 in “Scientific reports” Scalp hair sweating is a significant predictor of hair cortisol levels.
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.
January 2023 in “Research Square (Research Square)” Hair cortisol may be a good indicator of recent mood in people with bipolar disorder.
501 citations
,
October 2008 in “Psychoneuroendocrinology” Hair cortisol levels can show increased stress during late pregnancy but only for up to six months.
81 citations
,
July 2008 in “The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism” Certain mutations in the H6PD gene cause Cortisone Reductase Deficiency by affecting hormone production.
51 citations
,
November 2005 in “Journal of Medical Primatology” Alopecia in captive rhesus macaques is affected by season, sex, age, housing, and stress, with complex links between stress hormones and hair loss.
3 citations
,
June 2021 in “Journal of affective disorders” Hair cortisol and cortisone levels may affect how work stress influences depression in Chinese fishermen.
2 citations
,
June 2022 in “Scientific reports” Women with PCOS have higher hair cortisol levels, which are linked to worse metabolic and inflammatory conditions.
January 2013 in “Journal of dermatology” A new medical syndrome may include skin changes, hair loss, sweating issues, bone malformations, leg swelling, and low cortisol.
37 citations
,
March 2014 in “Journal of Trace Elements in Medicine and Biology” Lower hair zinc and copper levels found in Turkish males with hair loss; higher BMI linked to less hair zinc.
7 citations
,
January 2014 in “Case reports in endocrinology” A woman's excessive hair growth was caused by a rare benign tumor in her adrenal gland, which was successfully removed.
23 citations
,
June 2015 in “Clinica Chimica Acta” Researchers found potential urine markers for polycystic ovary syndrome, including testosterone-glucuronide and 11α-hydroxyprogesterone, which may help diagnose the condition.
18 citations
,
July 2009 in “Drug Metabolism and Disposition” Finasteride breakdown products found in bile and urine, helps understand drug safety and effectiveness.
50 citations
,
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.
1 citations
,
December 2021 in “American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology” Hair cortisol levels peak in the third trimester and decline postpartum.
44 citations
,
June 2018 in “Journal of Visualized Experiments” A culturally sensitive method was developed to collect hair samples from African Americans for stress analysis.
296 citations
,
October 2018 in “General and Comparative Endocrinology” Hair cortisol is a reliable way to measure long-term stress in animals.
1 citations
,
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.
1 citations
,
December 2018 in “IntechOpen eBooks” Human hair shows promise for non-invasive medical testing, but more research is needed to standardize its use.
February 2026 in “Psychoneuroendocrinology” Hair cortisol concentration partly reflects HPA axis regulation but doesn't capture all its complexities.
11 citations
,
April 2020 in “Animals” Moving horses to new places can increase their stress levels, as shown by higher stress hormone in their hair.