Abstract

A method and apparatus for measuring hair in a predefined area of skin. The method addresses the preparation of the skin and the device for counting the hairs in a defined area. The apparatus contains an optical magnifying lens, a housing for the lens and an aperture of known surface area in order to calculate the density of the hair in the portion of skin under measurement. When the method or apparatus are used, the end result will be a density measurement of hair per unit area. When this measurement is compared with similar measurements in the same area from a previous time or from a different area at the same time, a diagnosis of whether hair loss is occurring can be made with considerable accuracy. Similar applications can be made in areas where treatment suggests that hair loss has ceased or reversed through some intervention.