50.    Quantitative analysis of the characteristics between normal controls and androgenetic alopecia in Koreans using the computerized hand-held phototrichogram system.
Chang Hun Huh(1), Beom Joon Kim(2), Ji Young Kim(3), Sang Woong Youn(1), Kyoung Chan Park(1), Byung In Ro(3) , 1. Departments of Dermatology, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Bundang, Gyeonggido, 2. Dongguk University International Hospital, Ilsan, Gyeonggido, and 3. College of Medicine, Chung Ang University, Seoul, Korea.

The purpose of this study was to probe the effectiveness of the computerized hand-held phototrichogram system, which is easy to use, by comparing the characteristics of hair between a group of Korean men with androgenetic alopecia and a group of men without hair loss. Scalps from 15 normal healthy volunteers and 12 androgenetic alopecia patients were evaluated by the computerized hand-held phototrichogram system (Folliscope, LeadM Corporation, Seoul, Korea). The phototrichogram system was applied to 15cm above glabella of the volunteers for the baseline measurement after shaving and marking with a tattoo to ensure reproducibility. Two days later, hair density, linear hair growth rate, and hair thickness were automatically calculated immediately after applied again to the same site. Our results showed differences in hair density (88.6/cm2 in androgenetic alopecia, 155/cm2 in normal), linear hair growth rate (141um per day in androgenetic alopecia, 198um per day in normal), and hair thickness (38.8um in androgenetic alopecia, 71um in normal) between the two groups. We can easily obtain the quantitative data of the hair of normal controls and androgenetic alopecia patients in Koreans using the computerized hand-held phototrichogram system. This showed lower hair density, thinner hair diameter, slower hair growth rate in the Korean androgenetic alopecia group than in the non-hair loss group. The ease of measurement can make phototrichogram suitable for clinical practice as well as in research.