Feature characterization of scarring and non-scarring types of alopecia by multiphoton microscopy (Conference Presentation)

Treatment and management of alopecia are highly determined by an accurate diagnosis, which can be challenging due to the lack of methods to properly visualize hair follicles. Current standard diagnosis is based on dermoscopy for non-scarring alopecia and scalp biopsy for scarring types of alopecia. Dermoscopy can be inconclusive, while biopsy is a painful procedure. In this study, we used a clinical tomograph based on multiphoton microscopy (MPM) to non-invasively image the scalp of 5 healthy subjects and of 12 patients affected by non-scarring alopecia (androgenetic and areata) and scarring alopecia (frontal fibrosing). MPM is capable of non-invasive in vivo imaging of follicular structure…