TLDR The new automatic tool accurately measures hair thickness and is reliable.
In 2011, a study evaluated a new automatic phototrichogram system with a high-resolution DSLR camera and pattern recognition software for measuring hair diameters. The system aimed to provide precise hair thickness measurements using an alternative immersion fluid to minimize hair swelling. The results indicated that the automatic measurements correlated highly with manual measurements, with over 90% correlation for the same hairs and at least 80% when comparing automatic results with manual measurements of the same images. The study confirmed the system's reliability and precision, with a mean error of ±4µm for manual analysis and high reproducibility (intra-assay variability >95%) and consistency in hair orientation. The ZETA image analysis tool, trained for this system, showed a very good correlation with manual analysis (R² = 0.926). The automated method could reduce costs and workload in cosmetic hair growth studies.
40 citations,
April 2006 in “Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology” The Trichoscan system was found to be inaccurate for measuring hair growth, needing better software to be useful.
54 citations,
July 2002 in “Clinical and Experimental Dermatology” DHT, a testosterone byproduct, causes male pattern baldness.
234 citations,
February 2001 in “British Journal of Dermatology” FPHL affects hair density and diameter, causing visible hair loss in older women.
309 citations,
May 1993 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology” Horizontal scalp biopsy sections effectively diagnose and predict MPAA, with follicular density and inflammation impacting hair regrowth.
51 citations,
January 2004 in “Skin Pharmacology and Physiology” The document explains hair growth and shedding, factors affecting it, and methods to evaluate hair loss, emphasizing the importance of skin biopsy for diagnosis.
5 citations,
February 2011 in “Expert Opinion on Drug Discovery” We need better treatments for hair loss, and while test-tube methods are helpful, they can't fully replace animal tests for evaluating new hair growth treatments.
38 citations,
December 2011 in “British Journal of Dermatology” Menopause-related hormonal changes affect hair but are not the only cause of hair changes in middle-aged women.
61 citations,
April 2012 in “British Journal of Dermatology” Caucasian women's hair appears thickest in their 20s, with perceived thinning after mid-30s due to both decreasing density and diameter.
3 citations,
January 2021 in “Plastic and Aesthetic Research” Hair loss reduces hair thickness and coverage, but drug treatments mainly revive dormant hairs rather than reverse thinning; patients often undervalue their hair loss severity.
