Use of the TrichoScan to Assess Female Pattern Hair Loss

The TrichoScan method was used to assess female pattern hair loss (FPHL) in 28 women with androgenetic alopecia (AGA). The study found that miniaturization might be a relative and not an absolute measurement in FPHL, and only a few patients with FPHL would present with high counts of very thin hair. The study suggests that FPHL is a subtle and gradual diminution of hair diameter and decreasing hair quality in the androgen-sensitive area rather than the loss of large amounts of terminal hair and growing vellus hair instead. The TrichoScan procedure is a valuable tool for an office setting, but measurements of hair diameter at different scalp regions must also be undertaken.