Comments on: Can humans digest hair?

Question: Can humans digest hair?

holympus — Sat, 02 Feb 2008 23:12:50 -0800

Can humans digest hair?

Precipitating fact: cats seem unable to digest their own.

By: sbutler

sbutler — Sat, 02 Feb 2008 23:19:20 -0800

The obligatory Google search led to this email. The answer would appear to be "no".

Think about all the caustic chemicals and heat that people put on their hair to get it to change shape. Whether it's to straighten or to curl, the process is rather involved. And that's just to change shape, never mind digest. Our stomachs aren't built to do it.

By: infinitywaltz

infinitywaltz — Sat, 02 Feb 2008 23:29:16 -0800

Not only is human hair indigestible, but if you swallow enough of it you might end up with a bezoar.

By: lou

lou — Sat, 02 Feb 2008 23:57:27 -0800

People dying after eating enough of their hair come up in the news every so often.

By: O9scar

O9scar — Sun, 03 Feb 2008 00:00:01 -0800

Recent "human hairball" news story with fascinating-yet-disgusting photo here.

By: b33j

b33j — Sun, 03 Feb 2008 02:11:23 -0800

The word you need is bezoar.

By: ikkyu2

ikkyu2 — Sun, 03 Feb 2008 10:30:48 -0800

To be more specific, "trichobezoar." Bezoars can be made out of anything indigestible.