Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 3, 2026

06:41
A New Technique for Quantitative Analysis of Hair Loss in Mice Using Grayscale Analysis
Published on: March 9, 2015
Trichoscopy: a new method for diagnosing hair loss
Lidia Rudnicka1, Malgorzata Olszewska, Adriana Rakowska
1Department of Dermatology, CSK MSWiA, Warsaw, Poland. lidiarudnicka@yahoo.com
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology : JDD
|July 31, 2008
Summary
Trichoscopy, a magnified view of hair and scalp, aids in diagnosing hair loss by examining hair shafts and follicles. This technique reveals various hair shaft types and follicle abnormalities, improving diagnostic accuracy.
Area of Science:
- Dermatology
- Trichology
Background:
- Hair loss diagnosis can be challenging.
- Videodermoscopy of hair and scalp (trichoscopy) offers enhanced visualization.
- Its role in differential diagnosis is increasingly recognized.
Purpose of the Study:
- To highlight the utility of trichoscopy in diagnosing hair loss.
- To describe the structures visualized during trichoscopy.
Main Methods:
- Utilizing videodermoscopy for magnified examination (X20-X160) of the hair and scalp.
- Assessing hair shaft morphology and pilosebaceous unit characteristics.
Main Results:
- Trichoscopy visualizes diverse hair shaft types (vellus, terminal, monilethrix, etc.).
- It allows assessment of hair follicle status (normal, empty, fibrotic, plugged, cadaverized).
- Scalp abnormalities like hyperpigmentation and scaling are identifiable.
Conclusions:
- Trichoscopy is a valuable tool for the differential diagnosis of hair loss.
- It provides detailed insights into hair and scalp structures.
- This method enhances diagnostic capabilities in trichology.
Related Concept Videos
Accessory Structures of the Skin: Hair Growth and Types
Hair growth begins with the production of keratinocytes by the basal cells of the hair bulb. As new cells are deposited at the hair bulb, the hair shaft is pushed through the follicle toward the surface. Keratinization is completed as the cells are pushed to the skin surface to form the shaft of hair that is externally visible. The external hair is completely dead and composed entirely of keratin. Hair can be cut or shaven without damaging the hair structure because the cut is superficial. Most...
Accessory Structures of the Skin: Hair and Hair Follicles
Hair and hair follicles are integral components of the integumentary system. Hair is a filamentous structure composed mainly of a protein called keratin. It is found on the surface of the skin throughout the body, except for areas such as the palms of the hands and soles of the feet.
Hair is a keratinous filament growing out of the epidermis. It is primarily made of dead, keratinized cells. Hair strands originate at the epidermal penetration called the hair follicle. The hair shaft is the part...
Hair is a keratinous filament growing out of the epidermis. It is primarily made of dead, keratinized cells. Hair strands originate at the epidermal penetration called the hair follicle. The hair shaft is the part...
Multipotency and Niche of Bulge Stem Cell
A hair follicle or HF is a small part of the skin that produces the hair shaft. Paul Gerson Unna was the first to observe a bulge in the human hair follicle's outer root sheath (ORS). The bulge is present between the sebaceous gland and the arrector pili muscle and is the niche for hair follicle stem cells (HFSCs). The bulge is also a niche for melanocyte stem cells, and their loss results in graying of hair. The HFSCs express Sox9 and Lhx2, which help them maintain stemness and prevent...

