Research interests

  • A systematic characterization of human variation to move away from racial (European, Asian, African) to objective (scientific) classification. We collaborate on projects using applied mathematics, physics, mechanical engineering (with PI as Dr Malebogo Ngoepe) as well as biochemistry, proteomics, genetics and molecular biology to address this basic science knowledge gap.   

  • Causes and treatments of hair loss, with a laboratory focus on identifying potential biomarkers of scarring alopecia.

  • Wound healing, abnormal scarring and keloid disease in collaboration with Professor Ardeshir Bayat.

  • Support research projects for the Division of Dermatology and other academics (mutual agreement)

Publications

  1. Adeola HA, Wyk JC, Arowolo A, Ngwanya RM, Mkentane K, Khumalo NP. Emerging Diagnostic and Therapeutic Potentials of Human Hair Proteomics. Clin Appl. 2017 Sep 27.
  2. Ngwanya MR, Gray NA, Gumedze F, Ndyenga A, Khumalo NP. Higher concentrations of dithranol appear to induce hair growth even in severe alopecia areata. Dermatol Ther. 2017 Jul;30(4).
  3. K. Mkentane, J. C. Van Wyk, N. Sishi, F. Gumedze, M. Ngoepe, L. M. Davids, N. P. Khumalo Geometric classification of scalp hair for validdrug testing, 6 more reliable than 8 hair curl groups. PLOS ONE June 1, 2017
  4. Dhana A, Gumedze F, Khumalo NP. Regarding 'Frontal fibrosing alopecia: possible association with leave-on facial skincare products and sunscreens; a questionnaire study'. Br J Dermatol. 2017 Mar;176(3):836-837.
  5. NP Khumalo, G Shaboodien, SMJ Hemmings, JC Moolman-Smook, D Stein. Pathologic grooming (acne excoriee, trichotillomania, and nail biting) in 4 generations of a single-family J Am Acad Derm Case Reports 2016; 2 (1), 51.
  6. JC Van Wyk, K Mkentane, F Gumedze, NP Khumalo. No-lye not better than lye relaxers. J. Cosmet. Sci. 2014; 65: 403-405
  7. Mirmirani P, Khumalo NP. Traction alopecia: how to translate study data for public education--closing the KAP gap? Dermatol Clin. 2014 Apr;32(2):153-61.
  8. Khumalo NP. Beyond "ethnicity" in dermatology. Dermatol Clin. 2014 Apr;32(2)
  9. Mkentane K, Maneli M, Davids ML, Freedom G, Khumalo NP. Relaxers damage hair and increase fragility. Int J Dermatol. 2014 Mar;53(3)
  10. Maneli MH, Smith P, Khumalo NP. Elevated Formaldehyde concentration in "Brazilian Keratin Type" hair straightening products: a Cross Sectional Study. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2014 Feb;70(2):276-80
  11. Maneli M, Mkentane K, Khumalo NP. Acquired silky African hair, malnutrition, and chronic diseases. Int J Dermatol. 2014 Mar;53(3):e158-9
  12. Khumalo NP, Mkentane K, Muthukarapan C, Hardie D, Korsman S, Hu N, Mthebe T, Davids LM, Rousseau J. Invisible Bleeding from Clean-Shave Haircuts: Detection with Blood Specific RNA Markers. Dermatology. 2013, 16.
  13. Maneli MH, Mkentane K, Khumalo NP. Lipid distribution and influence on hair structure. Int J Cosmet Sci. 2013 Oct;35(5):523
  14. Khumalo NP, Gantsho N, Gumedze F, Mthebe T. Health risks of the clean-shave chiskop haircut. S Afr Med J. 2013 May 27;103(7):489-90.
  15. Khumalo NP. Folliculitis keloidalis nuchea,bleeding from haircuts, and potential HIV transmission. Int J Dermatol. 2012 Nov;51 Suppl 1:21-3.
  16. Khumalo NP, Gumedze F. The adapted classification of male pattern hair loss improves reliability. Dermatology. 2012;225(2):110-4.
  17. Khumalo NP. The “fringe sign” for public education on traction alopecia. Dermatol Online J. 2012 Sep 15;18(9):16
  18. Beach RA, Wilkinson KA, Gumedze F, Khumalo NP. Sebum Transforming Growth Factor β1 Induced by Hair Products. Arch Dermatol. 2012 Jun 1;148(6):764-6.
  19. Khumalo NP, Gumedze F. Traction: Risk Factor or Co-incidence in Central Centrifugal Cicatricial Alopecia? Br J Dermatol. 2012 May 12. [Epub ahead of print]
  20. Beach RA, Wilkinson KA, Gumedze F, Khumalo NP. Baseline sebum IL-1α is higher than expected in afro-textured hair: a risk factor for hair loss? J Cosmet Dermatol. 2012 Mar;11(1):9-16.
  21. Khumalo NP. Hair fashion trends and formaldehyde health risks. S Afr Med J. 2011 Nov 25;101(12):872
  22. Khumalo NP. Prevalence of central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia. Arch Dermatol. 2011 Dec;147(12):1453-4
  23. Khumalo NP. Hair care practices and scalp/hair disease in African American girls. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2011;64(6):1181-2
  24. Khumalo NP, Gumedze F, Lehloenya R. Folliculitis Keloidalis is associated with the risk of bleeding from haircuts. Int J Dermatol. 2011;50(10):1212-6  
  25. Khumalo NP Grooming and central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia.  J Am Acad Dermatol. 2010 Mar;62(3):507-8.
  26. Khumalo NP, Stone J, Gumedze F, Mc Grath E, Ngwanya MR, De Bekker D. Relaxers damage hair: evidence from amino acid analysis. J Am Acad Dermatol 2010;62(3):402-8. 
  27. Khumalo NP. On the history of African hair care: more treasures await discovery. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2008;7(3):231.
  28. Khumalo NP, Jessop S, Gumedze F, Ehrlich R. Determinants of marginal traction alopecia in African girls and women. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2008;59(3):432-8.
  29. Khumalo NP, Jessop S, Gumedze F, Ehrlich R. Marginal Traction Alopecia Severity Score - development and test of reliability. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2007;6(4):262-9
  30. Khumalo NP, Jessop S, Gumedze F, Ehrlich R. Hairdressing and the prevalence of scalp disease in African adults. Br J Dermatol 2007;157(5):981-8
  31. Khumalo NP, Gumedze F. African hair length in a school population: a clue to disease pathogenesis? J Cosmet Dermatol 2007;6(3):144-51.
  32. Khumalo NP, Pillay K, Ngwanya RM. Acute 'relaxer'-associated scarring alopecia: a report of five cases. Br J Dermatol 2007.
  33. Khumalo NP, Jessop S, Gumedze F, Ehrlich R. Hairdressing is associated with scalp disease in African schoolchildren. Br J Dermatol 2007;157(1):106-10.
  34. Khumalo NP. Yes, let's abandon race--it does not accurately correlate with hair form. J Am Acad Dermatol 2007;56(4):709-10.
  35. Khumalo N, Ngwanya R. Traction alopecia: 2% topical minoxidil shows promise. Report of two cases. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol 2007;21(3):433-4.
  36. Khumalo NP. African hair length: the picture is clearer. J Am Acad Dermatol 2006;54(5):886-8.
  37. Khumalo NP, Jessop S, Ehrlich R. Prevalence of cutaneous adverse effects of hairdressing: a systematic review. Arch Dermatol 2006;142(3):377-83.
  38. Khumalo NP. African hair morphology: macrostructure to ultrastructure. Int J Dermatol 2005;44 Suppl 1:10-2.
  39. Khumalo NP, Dawber RP, Ferguson DJ. Apparent fragility of African hair is unrelated to the cystine-rich protein distribution: a cytochemical electron microscopic study. Exp Dermatol 2005;14(4):311-4.
  40. Khumalo NP, Doe PT, Dawber RP, Ferguson DJ. What is normal black African hair? A light and scanning electron-microscopic study. J Am Acad Dermatol 2000;43(5 Pt 1):814-20.
  41. Gray NA, Dhana A, Van Der Vyver L, Van Wyk J, Khumalo NP, Stein DJ. Determinants of hair cortisol concentration in children: A systematic review. Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2017 Nov 2; 87:204-214
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  1. Van den Worm L, Khumalo NP. Skin manifestations are common and associated with a higher prevalence of congenital abnormalities in Zika virus infection. Int J Dermatol. 2017 Jul 24.
  2.  K York,  N C Dlova; C Y Wright, N P Khumalo.  Primary cutaneous malignancies in the Northern Cape Province of South Africa: A retrospective histopathological review SAMJ January 2017, Vol. 107, No. 1
  3.  P E Kellett,4 N Dip Med Tech; R Kassanjee, A Mosam, Kellett N; R Kassanjee, A Mosam, B  Kakande, F Gumedze, C Hlela, NP Khumalo. Focus on the Top Ten Diagnoses Could Reduce Pediatric Dermatology Referrals. Ped dermatol 33 (1), 99-102
  4. Mercier S, Küry S, Salort-Campana E, Magot A, Agbim U, Besnard T, Bodak N, Bou-Hanna C, Bréhéret F, Brunelle P, Caillon F, Chabrol B, Cormier-Daire V, David A, Eymard B, Faivre L, Figarella-Branger D, Fleurence E, Ganapathi M, Gherardi R, Goldenberg A, Hamel A, Igual J, Irvine AD, Israël-Biet D, Kannengiesser C, Laboisse C, Le Caignec C, Mahé JY, Mallet S, MacGowan S, McAleer MA, McLean I, Méni C, Munnich A, Mussini JM, Nagy PL, Odel J, O'Regan GM, Péréon Y, Perrier J, Piard J, Puzenat E, Sampson JB, Smith F, Soufir N, Tanji K, Thauvin C, Ulane C, Watson RM, Khumalo NP, Mayosi BM, Barbarot S, Bézieau S. Expanding the clinical spectrum of hereditary fibrosing poikiloderma with tendon contractures,  myopathy and pulmonary fibrosis due to FAM111B mutations. Orphanet J Rare Dis. 2015
  5. Küry S, Mercier S, Shaboodien G, Besnard T, Barbarot S, Khumalo NP, Mayosi BM, Bézieau S.  CUGC for hereditary fibrosing poikiloderma with tendon contractures, myopathy, and pulmonary fibrosis (POIKTMP). Eur J Hum Genet. 2015
  6. Hlela C, Lunjani N, Gumedze F, Kakande B, Khumalo NP. Affordable moisturisers are effective in atopic eczema: A randomised controlled trial.  S Afr Med J. 2015 Sep 14;105(9):780-4.
  7. Maneli MH, Wiesner L, Tinguely C, Davids LM, Spengane Z, Smith P, van Wyk JC, Jardine A, Khumalo NP.  Combinations of potent topical steroids, mercury and hydroquinone are common in internationally manufactured skin-lightening products: a spectroscopic study. Clin Exp Dermatol. 2015
  8. F Gray CL, Levin ME, Zar HJ, Potter PC, Khumalo NP, Volkwyn L, Fenemore B, du Toit G. Food allergy in South African children with atopic dermatitis.F Gray CL, Levin ME, Zar HJ, Potter PC, Khumalo NP, Volkwyn L, Fenemore B, du Toit G. Food allergy in South African children with atopic dermatitis. Pediatr Allergy Immunol. 2014 Oct;25(6):572-9.
  9. Mercier S, Küry S, Shaboodien G, Houniet DT, Khumalo NP, Bou-Hanna C, Bodak N, Cormier-Daire V, David A, Faivre L, Figarella-Branger D, Gherardi RK, Glen E, Hamel A, Laboisse C, Le Caignec C, Lindenbaum P, Magot A, Munnich A, Mussini JM, Pillay K, Rahman T, Redon R, Salort-Campana E, Santibanez-Koref M, Thauvin C, Barbarot S, Keavney B, Bézieau S, Mayosi BM. Mutations in FAM111B cause hereditary fibrosing poikiloderma with tendon contracture, myopathy, and pulmonary fibrosis. Am J Hum Genet. 2013 Dec 5;93(6):1100-7
  10. Hlela C, Graham N, Bhigjee AI, Taylor GP, Khumalo NP, Mosam A. Human T cell lymphotropic virus type 1- associated infective dermatitis in KwaZulu Natal, South Africa. BMC Dermatol. 2013 Oct 23;13(1):11
  11. Infective dermatitis associated with Human T-Cell Lymphotatropic virus Type 1 in a Child with Bronchiectasis.  Webb KW, Hlela C, Scott C, le Roux DM, Zampoli M, Ayuk A, Hans L, Khumalo N. Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2013 Jan 23
  12. Kirtschig G, Middleton P, Bennett C, Murrell DF, Wojnarowska F, Khumalo NP. Interventions for bullous pemphigoid. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2010 Oct 6;(10)
  13. Hlela C, Shepperd S, Khumalo NP, Taylor GP. The prevalence of human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1 in the general population is unknown. AIDS Rev. 2009;11(4):205-14.
  14. Theletsane T, Redfern A, Raynham O, Harris T, Prose NS, Khumalo NP. Life-threatening infantile haemangioma: a dramatic response to propranolol. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2009; 23(12):1465-6
  15. Eisman S, Ngwanya RM, Pillay K, Khumalo NP. Whorled follicular keratosis, scarring alopecia in ichthyosis follicularis atrichia with photophobia syndrome. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2009;23(7):842-3.
  16. Jessop S, Khumalo NP. Pemphigus: a treatment update. Am J Clin Dermatol. 2008;9(3):147-54.
  17. Khumalo NP, Pillay K, Beighton P, Wainwright H, Walker B, Saxe N, Mayosi BM, Bateman ED. Poikiloderma, tendon contracture, and pulmonary fibrosis: a new autosomal dominant syndrome? Br J Dermatol. 2006 Nov;155(5):1057-61
  18. Khumalo NP. Problematic childhood atopic eczema consensus document?
    S Afr Med J. 2006 Feb;96(2):84-6
  19. Khumalo N, Kirtschig G, Middleton P, Hollis S, Wojnarowska F, Murrell D. Interventions for bullous pemphigoid. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2005 Jul 20;(3):CD002292.
  20. Kirtschig G, Khumalo N. Management of Bullous Pemphigoid. Recommendations for Immunoregulatory Treatment. Am J Clin Dermatol 2004; 5 (5): 1175
  21. Wojnarowska F, Kirschig G, Highet AS, Venning VA, Khumalo NP, British Association of Dermatologists. Guidelines for the management of bullous pemphigoid. Br J Dermatol. 2002 Aug;147(2):214-21.
  22. Khumalo NP, Murrell DF, Wojnarowska F, Kirtschig G. A systematic review of treatments for bullous pemphigoid.
    Arch Dermatol. 2002 Mar;138(3):385-9.
  23. Kirtschig G, Murrell D, Wojnarowska F, Khumalo N. Interventions for mucous membrane pemphigoid/cicatricial pemphigoid and epidermolysis bullosa acquisita: a systematic literature review.
    Arch Dermatol. 2002 Mar;138(3):380-4.
  24. Gee BC, Allen J, Khumalo NP, Wojnarowska F. Bullous pemphigoid in pregnancy: contrasting behaviour in two patients.
    Br J Dermatol. 2001 Dec;145(6):994-7.
  25. Wojnarowska F, Kirschig G, Khumalo NP. Treatment of subepidermal immunobullous diseases. Clin Dermatol. 2001 Nov-Dec;19(6):768-77.
  26. Khumalo NP, Booker S, Wojnarowska F. Vulval punch biopsies: are they acceptable to patients and do they alter management? Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. J Obstet Gynaecol 2001;21(2):181-183
  27. Khumalo NP, Huson S, Burge SM. Development of lentigenes within nevoid hypopigmentation: A case of cutaneous mosaisism. Br J Dermatol. 2001 Jan;144(1):188-189.
  28. Khumalo NP, Joss DV, Huson S, Burge SM. Hyper- and hypopigmentation with telangiectases: An unusual manifestation of ataxia-telangiectasia. Brit J Dermatol 2001 Feb;144(2):369-71.
  29. Murray S.C, Dawber R, Khumalo N. Congenital malalignment of the left index fingernail: a case report and review. Brit J Dermatol, 2001;144 (4):911-912 
  30. Khumalo N, Wojnarowska F.  How to recognise and treat lichen sclerosus. Prescriber 2000, 5th Oct;11(19):34-38 .
  31. Khumalo NP, Wojnarowska F. Immunoflourescence. Dermatology in Practice 2000;8(2):18.
  32. Khumalo NP, Wojnarowska F.  Lichen sclerosus. Dermatology in Practice; 2000;8(4):10-11.
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