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Published:
Jul 3, 2026DOI:
10.4314/gmj.v60i2.6Keywords:
Article Details
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Main Article Content
Quantitative phototrichoscopic assessment of hair density of healthy adult Nigerians aged 45 years and above
Abstract
Objectives: To assess the hair density (HD) of adult Nigerians aged 45 years and above.
Design: Cross-sectional descriptive study
Setting: Two University Teaching Hospitals: dermatology and geriatric outpatient clinics in Nigeria from April to July 2023
Participants: Adults aged 45 years and above were recruited
Interventions: Phototrichographic images of four scalp areas (frontal, vertex, occipital and right temporal) were evaluated.
Main outcome measures: Hair density (cm)2 , number of hair strands per pilosebaceous unit and diameter of hair strands (mm)
Results: The mean age of the participants was 57.9±10 years, and 51.8% were male. HD ranged from 170 to 584/cm2, and the mean HD was 376.1 ± 68, 305.5 ± 46, 336.9±57.5 and 345.2±61.9 in the frontal, temporal, occipital and vertex areas, respectively. Terminal and vellus hair diameters varied from 0.01 to 0.02 mm and 0.002 to 0.006 mm, respectively. One to two hair strands (HS) per pilosebaceous unit are more frequently observed. HD and HS numbers significantly differed with age and gender, p= <0.001
Conclusion: Hair density is high in adult Nigerians, decreases with age and is highest at the frontal area. Males have a higher hair density than females. These parameters need to be taken into cognisance for restorative hair procedures.
