Variation of Hair Follicle Counts among Different Scalp Areas: A Quantitative Histopathological Study
Issued Date
2022-01-01
Resource Type
ISSN
22969195
eISSN
22969160
Scopus ID
2-s2.0-85115789854
Journal Title
Skin Appendage Disorders
Volume
8
Issue
1
Start Page
24
End Page
30
Rights Holder(s)
SCOPUS
Bibliographic Citation
Skin Appendage Disorders Vol.8 No.1 (2022) , 24-30
Suggested Citation
Rutnin S. Variation of Hair Follicle Counts among Different Scalp Areas: A Quantitative Histopathological Study. Skin Appendage Disorders Vol.8 No.1 (2022) , 24-30. 30. doi:10.1159/000518434 Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/20.500.14594/87441
Title
Variation of Hair Follicle Counts among Different Scalp Areas: A Quantitative Histopathological Study
Author(s)
Author's Affiliation
Other Contributor(s)
Abstract
Introduction: Scalp biopsy is a standard method for the definitive diagnosis of alopecia. The hair count parameters of each scalp area remain unclear. This study aimed to determine hair count values at different scalp locations from histopathology and to establish reference values for each part of the scalp. Methods: We obtained biopsy specimens from the frontal, vertex, temporoparietal, and occipital areas of the scalps of normal deceased subjects. All specimens were evaluated for the number of follicular units, hair counts, hair types, and stages of the hair cycle. Results: In total, 240 specimens were collected from 60 cadavers. Across all scalp sites, the temporoparietal area showed the lowest mean hair count, number of follicular units, terminal and vellus hairs, and terminal-to-vellus hair ratio. The average anagen-to-telogen hair ratio was comparable across all scalp sites. This study did not observe a significant association of hair parameters with gender differences or increasing age in all scalp areas. Conclusions: The present study revealed the diversity of the hair index among different scalp areas and suggested that normal hair count values should be separately standardized on each scalp region. Our findings may provide useful reference values for the histopathological evaluation of hair disorders in Asians.