TLDR The modified wash test is better than TrichoScan® for diagnosing hair loss.
In the 2013 study comparing the modified wash test (MWT) and TrichoScan® for diagnosing hair loss in 41 subjects, researchers found that MWT had a fair concordance with clinical diagnosis (K = 0.32), while TrichoScan® had a less satisfactory concordance (K = 0.22). The two methods agreed in only 41% of cases. MWT was more effective, particularly in detecting telogen effluvium (TE), with 29% versus 19% for TrichoScan®. The study recommended using MWT and dermoscopy alongside clinical observation for hair loss diagnosis, reserving biopsy for particularly challenging cases, and suggested that TrichoScan® might be less useful and potentially misleading, especially in cases of TE.
89 citations,
December 2010 in “The Journal of Dermatology” The conclusion is that an algorithm using trichoscopy helps diagnose different types of hair loss but may need updates and a biopsy if results are unclear.
38 citations,
May 2009 in “European journal of dermatology/EJD. European journal of dermatology” TrichoScan® is a reliable tool for measuring hair growth, providing quicker and more consistent results than manual methods.
30 citations,
April 2009 in “Dermatologic Surgery” TrichoScan helps identify subtle hair thinning in women with androgenetic alopecia.
63 citations,
October 2005 in “Archives of Dermatology” Shorter, thinner hairs indicate AGA, while longer, thicker hairs suggest CTE; counting and measuring shed hairs helps diagnose hair loss type.
June 2024 in “Al- Anbar Medical Journal” Acute telogen effluvium can be resolved by addressing causes, but chronic telogen effluvium is harder to treat.
May 2017 in “InTech eBooks” Trichoscopy and trichogram are useful for diagnosing hair and scalp conditions.
2 citations,
January 2022 in “Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology” The refined wash test is a reliable way to measure daily hair loss and can tell the difference between different types of hair loss.
73 citations,
March 2009 in “Seminars in Cutaneous Medicine and Surgery” The document concludes that accurate diagnosis of hair disorders is crucial and requires a range of diagnostic methods.
91 citations,
January 2009 in “International Journal of Trichology” Different hair evaluation methods have their own pros and cons, and using multiple methods together is best for accurate hair loss diagnosis and tracking.
