Evaluation of hair follicle parameters using TrichoScale Pro^© in healthy dogs: a pilot study

Abstract

Background -Trichoscopy, in combination with image analysis software, is a readily available, efficient diagnostic tool for assessing hair follicle parameters of people in vivo. Systems designed for use in human dermatology must be evaluated and validated with animal skin/hair before they can be used for veterinary applications.Objectives -To evaluate the use of a commercial software package for image analysis of canine hair follicles and to define hair follicle parameters. Animals -Thirteen client-owned healthy dogs.Methods -Trichoscopic images at x20 magnification were obtained from three shaved body sites (left dorsal head, left thorax, left flank) over a five day period, then analyzed by the software.Results -The image analysis software was able to identify microscopic changes in hair length on a daily basis, calculating a mean hair growth rate of 0.065 mm/day. Each of the three body sites had consistent hair growth rates across all days. Anagen and telogen percentages were consistent at each body site by Day 2 (48 h postclipping). Data for mean hair thickness, and primary and secondary hair percentages also are reported.Conclusions -Although it provides less useful data for canine hair coats than for human scalp hair, the system evaluated provides an easy, noninvasive, rapid means for assessing several important canine hair follicle parameters: daily hair growth rates, anagen and telogen percentages, primary and secondary hair percentages, and mean hair thickness. This diagnostic tool could serve to establish breed-specific hair coat standards, evaluating hair follicle changes in various canine alopecic conditions and monitoring coat-promoting treatments in dogs.

Clinical techniques in veterinary dermatology: Dermoscopy

“…3 The identification of dermoscopic structures and parameters has been used to evaluate pigmented lesions, vascular patterns, hair and follicular abnormalities (trichoscopy), ectoparasitism (entodermoscopy), and infectious and inflammatory skin diseases (inflammoscopy). [4][5][6][7][8] Consistent dermoscopic patterns have been described for different diseases, which may lead to a clinical diagnosis and may eliminate the need to perform more invasive diagnostic testing such as skin biopsies. Dermoscopy can act as an interface between the macroscopic clinical dermatological examination and the microscopic dermatopathological analysis.…”

What Can Complex Dietary Supplements Do for Hair Loss and How Can It Be Validly Measured—A Review

“…In the newer version, the images could primarily be corrected manually, e.g., if individual hairs lie on top of each other and are not recognized by the software. Interestingly, the TrichoScale ® method has recently been validated as a diagnostic tool for dogs due to its easy, noninvasive and fast measurement [32].…”

“…Interestingly, the TrichoScale ® method has recently been validated as a diagnostic tool for dogs due to its easy, noninvasive and fast measurement [32].…”

The use of photobiomodulation therapy in the treatment of hair cycle arrest in a Pembroke Welsh corgi

“…16,17 In a recent pilot study, videodermoscopy and the associated imaging software were utilised to describe several canine hair follicle parameters and appeared to be a well-tolerated, non-invasive diagnostic method for characterisation of hair follicle disorders in dogs. 16…”

“…This tool has become increasingly popular in human and veterinary medicine. It has been used mainly for the characterisation and diagnosis of pigmented and non‐pigmented skin lesions, 15 but has also been used to assist in the noninvasive diagnosis and monitoring of hair disorders 16,17 . In a recent pilot study, videodermoscopy and the associated imaging software were utilised to describe several canine hair follicle parameters and appeared to be a well‐tolerated, non‐invasive diagnostic method for characterisation of hair follicle disorders in dogs 16 …”