TrichoScan: A Novel Tool for the Analysis of Hair Growth In Vivo

In 2003, the TrichoScan was introduced as a new method for analyzing hair growth parameters in vivo, including hair density, hair diameter, hair growth rate, and anagen/telogen ratio. The study involved 56 participants, with a focus on 17 male patients with androgenetic alopecia (AGA). The TrichoScan, which combines epiluminescence microscopy with digital image analysis, demonstrated high reproducibility with intraclass correlation values of approximately 91% for the same operator and 97% for different operators. The method proved to be less discomforting for patients and efficient in operation. It was particularly effective in detecting significant increases in hair count and thickness in patients treated with finasteride for AGA over a 6-month period. The technique also overcame previous challenges by allowing the analysis of both pigmented and non-pigmented hairs. The study concluded that TrichoScan is a reliable and suitable tool for evaluating and monitoring hair growth, particularly useful in clinical studies and the assessment of treatments for hair loss conditions like AGA.