PGY-4 Resident Massachusetts Eye & Ear/Harvard Medical School
Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) is amongst the most common medical conditions in both men and women. AGA is an underestimated source of psychosocial distress for patients. Patients often seek both medical and surgical solutions including minoxidil, finasteride, platelet-rich plasma therapy, and hair transplantation. Photograph analysis is essential in monitoring hair thinning and hair loss over time and/or prior to and following treatment for hair restoration. There is currently no standardized protocol for photograph documentation amongst physicians - leading to decreased ability to accurately monitor the disease process and response to treatment. Our group has defined a standardized protocol for photograph documentation of patients with alopecia. This protocol includes a sequence of seven photographs, including frontal view, profile view, bird’s eye view, and vertex view. This protocol has been assessed for reproducibility amongst laypeople, resident trainees, and attending physicians. This protocol will allow physicians to reliably monitor patients presenting with and being treated for hair restoration and will therefore overall improve patient care.