Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 28, 2026
06:41
A New Technique for Quantitative Analysis of Hair Loss in Mice Using Grayscale Analysis
Published on: March 9, 2015
Automated body hair counting and length measurement
1Biotech Imaging, CSIRO Mathematical and Information Sciences, North Ryde, NSW, Australia. pascal.vallotton@csiro.au
Summary
A new scanner system with image analysis algorithms accurately quantifies hair count and length. This non-invasive method objectively assesses hair conditions for clinical studies.
Area of Science:
- Dermatology
- Medical Imaging
- Image Analysis
Background:
- Hair loss and excess hair are common conditions requiring objective assessment.
- Current methods for evaluating hair treatments are often invasive or lack quantitative precision.
- Non-invasive, staining-free techniques are crucial for accurate treatment efficacy evaluation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and validate a non-invasive system for quantitative hair assessment.
- To provide an objective measure of hair count, length, and visibility.
- To support research in medical and cosmetic pilosity studies.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a flatbed scanner combined with novel image analysis algorithms.
- Developed algorithms to count individual hairs and measure their length.
- Introduced a hair visibility metric for objective condition assessment.
Main Results:
- The system detects even barely visible hairs, outperforming human observation.
- Demonstrated robustness against skin impurities, texture, and color variations.
- Achieved high accuracy with human counter agreement within 10% (N=12) and analysis speed of ~2 images/minute.
Conclusions:
- The developed software offers a valuable tool for objective pilosity assessment in research.
- The system is suitable for large-scale clinical trials evaluating hair growth or removal.
- The underlying image analysis algorithm has potential applications beyond pilosity assessment.
