An Investigation of Hair Cortisol Concentration Across Body Sites and within Hair Shaft

Cortisol concentrations in hair collected from young male and female adults were assayed and compared for differences along shaft length and between body sites. No significant differences were found between hair shaft sites, supporting a model of the hair shaft as “alive” and responsive to environmental demand in terms of cortisol production. Hair taken from forearms had significantly higher concentrations of cortisol than hair from lower legs, suggesting a localized hair cortisol response and verifying previous findings. Issues of the link between central and peripheral HPA axes are raised for discussion and further investigation.