Maria Rosa Rino, Ranieri Rolandi^*, Alberto Diaspro*, Marcella Guarrera

DISEM – Section of Dermatology, * Department of Physics University of Genoa

The Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) provides three-dimensional images with high resolution and a qualitative and quantitative analysis of the sample surface.  In the case of the hair shaft, the opening of the scales, the roughness and the weathering of the cuticle, and its possible alterations during cosmetic and pharmacological treatments can be observed and measured.

In this poster we show the features of the cuticle of hairs treated with lotions, from subjects of different age and from patients with androgenetic alopecia under topical and systemic therapy.

The application of AFM to hair opens new perspectives in cosmetology.