P#38  Contrast enhanced phototrichogram pinpoints scalp hair changes in androgen sensitive areas of male androgenetic alopecia

T. Leroy and D. Van Neste. Skinterface, Tournai, Belgium

In male androgenetic alopecia (AGA), global changes of scalp hair observed on many years are the result of discrete structural and/or functional modifications. These changes occur at the level of individual hair follicles which can be accurately explored with the contrast enhanced phototrichogram technique (1). The aim of this study was to evaluate, in 21 untreated male subjects with AGA, the relation between hair data with clinical staging (modified Norwood-Hamilton scale) as compared with 5 controls. As opposed to occipital sites where AGA subjects did not differ from controls, androgen sensitive areas of AGA subjects showed a reduction of total and anagen hair counts. The severity of AGA seems to be related to the reduction of anagen counts and the associated relative increase of thin hair. These results indicate the potential use of the contrast enhanced phototrichogram method for calibration of innovative tools such as the scalp coverage scoring (SCS) method (2). These SCS scores were correlated with shortening of anagen phase and hair miniaturisation, the two processes involved in the development of male AGA.

(1) Eur. J. Dermatol. 4:326-331

(2)application patent PCT/EP/ 01/0697