Field Melanin Mapping of the Hairless Scalp

November 2011 in “ Skin Research and Technology ”

Gérald Pierard, Piérard-Franchimont C, Pascale Quatresooz

melanin androgenic alopecia Visioscan Visioface hypermelanosis hypomelanotic spots melanocytes photo-induced skin diseases PUVA-induced lentiginosis hair loss skin pigmentation PUVA

TLDR The study found a specific pattern of uneven melanin distribution on balding scalps that could help understand skin diseases caused by light exposure.

In the 2011 study, researchers examined the distribution of melanin on the scalp of 43 fair-skinned Caucasian men with androgenic alopecia using the Visioscan® camera with ULEV and the Visioface® Quick device. They found a mottled subclinical melanoderma (MSM) pattern of hypermelanosis, characterized by smaller spots at hair follicle openings and larger spots in interfollicular areas, with a few hypomelanotic spots also present. The study concluded that this MSM pattern might provide insights into the patterned pathobiology of melanocytes and could be related to photo-induced skin diseases, resembling widespread PUVA-induced lentiginosis.

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