Abstract
Hair and nails differ in their specific biochemistry and anatomy. Yet, in spite of the overt differences, they must have evolved from a common structure. Just for fun, imagine a hair to be a nail unit rolled up into a cylindrical form with the nail plate in the center of the tube. There is anatomical similarity between them; i.e., the internal root sheath epidermis of the hair is analogous to the nail bed epidermis. They share diseases that affect them similarly. Take, for instance, alopecia areata: this disease produces the well-known temporary patch of local hair loss and also results in temporary nail plate lesions. Lichen planus affecting the hair results in permanent atrophy, as is the case with the nail matrix.6
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Notes
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© 1980 Spectrum Publications, Inc.
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Zaias, N. (1980). Hair and Nails. In: The Nail in Health and Disease. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-7846-4_12
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-7846-4_12
Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht
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