Background: The common grading systems for female pattern hair loss (FPHL), such as Ludwig and Savin scales, are subjective to visual inspection. To provide a more objective evaluation of baldness, the authors have developed a method to calculate baldness quantitatively through a computer-aided imaging system (CAIS).
Objective: To investigate the use of CAIS on Chinese women with FPHL.
Materials and methods: Thirty-eight Chinese women with FPHL (Savin Scale I-2 to II-2) were recruited. A total of 215 photographs were taken. The central balding areas (CBAs) were calculated after exposure correction by CAIS for comparison with clinical staging.
Results: The average CBA was 9,391.12 mm in all patients, 3,828.84 mm in Type I-2, 5,880.38 mm in I-3, 8,267.44 mm in I-4, 12,999.26 mm in II-1, and 15,979.71 mm in II-2. The values of CBA correlated with clinical staging using Savin scales. A 7.53% difference was found in the calculated CBA by exposure correction.
Conclusion: The CAIS allows physicians to evaluate the severity of baldness more accurately through quantitative calculation, rather than qualitative visual observation. The values of the CBA measured by the CAIS, used in conjunction with the present grading systems, may be more precise and efficient to evaluate the severity of FPHL.