The changing patterns of hair density and thickness in South Korean women with hair loss: clinical office-based phototrichogram analysis.
BACKGROUND
The principal objective of this study was to investigate the clinical office-based phototrichogram (PT) findings of multiple scalp areas in South Korean women with hair loss.


METHODS
Two hundred and fifty-eight women with hair loss were classified into 155 female pattern hair loss (FPHL) and 103 telogen effluvium (TE) patients. Hair density and thickness were measured via computer software-assisted PT. Eleven scalp sites, including the three points of the front, top, and back of the head and the right and left sides of the head area, were targeted in this investigation.


RESULTS
PT profiles of the patients with hair loss showed significantly reduced hair density and thickness relative to the controls. The TE group showed the same order distribution as the control group, but the density and thickness were significantly lower than those of the controls. The values for the FPHL patient group declined with increasing Ludwig grade. The curve patterns of mean hair density and thickness by scalp site were shown to differ from group to group and to have a peculiar distribution.


CONCLUSIONS
The results of this study indicate that hair density and thickness vary over the entire scalp area in patients suffering from hair loss. The measurement of multiple scalp sites and the observation of changing patterns of hair parameters are very informative in terms of differentiating less apparent hair loss disorders. Through this study, we wish to introduce a doctor- and patient-friendly hair evaluation tool for use in clinic offices.
Kang
Hoon
H
Department of Dermatology, St. Paul's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, South Korea.
Kang
Tae Wook
TW
Lee
Seung Dong
SD
Park
Young Min
YM
Kim
Hyung Ok
HO
Kim
Si Yong
SY
D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000505:Alopecia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003880:Dermatology / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006197:Hair / Q000254:growth & development / Q000473:pathology* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D006801:Humans; D007723:Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D010781:Photography; D011336:Probability; D012307:Risk Factors; D012536:Scalp Dermatoses / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D055815:Young Adult