ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE-ASSISTED TRICHOSCOPY IN HAIR DISORDERS: CURRENT APPLICATIONS, CLINICAL UTILITY, AND FUTURE PERSPECTIVES
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31435/ijitss.3(51).2026.6002Keywords:
Artificial Intelligence, Trichoscopy, Alopecia, Hair Disorders, Machine Learning, TeledermatologyAbstract
Hair and scalp disorders are commonly assessed through visual examination, serial photography, and trichoscopy. Although trichoscopy offers a non-invasive view of follicular and perifollicular structures, its interpretation may vary according to clinician experience, image quality, and examination protocols. Artificial intelligence (AI), including machine learning, deep learning, and computer vision, may help convert selected elements of trichoscopic assessment into more objective and reproducible measurements. This review summarizes the current role of AI-assisted trichoscopy in the diagnosis, follow-up, and individualized management of hair disorders.
A narrative review with a structured literature search was conducted. Publications addressing AI, trichoscopy, alopecia, scalp disorders, dermatological image analysis, teledermatology, and precision medicine were considered. The reviewed literature suggests that the most immediately applicable use of AI in trichology is not autonomous diagnosis, but automated quantification of hair and scalp parameters, including hair density, shaft diameter, follicular unit count, miniaturization, and longitudinal change. These tools may support assessment of androgenetic alopecia, alopecia areata, cicatricial alopecias, and selected inflammatory or infectious scalp conditions. However, diagnostic and predictive models remain limited by heterogeneous datasets, inconsistent image acquisition, limited external validation, and unresolved ethical and regulatory issues.
At present, AI-assisted trichoscopy should be viewed as an adjunct to dermatological evaluation. Future progress will depend on diverse datasets, standardized imaging, explainable algorithms, secure data handling, and clinical validation demonstrating measurable benefit for patients and clinicians.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Martyna Wiśniewska, Natalia Strugała, Magdalena Bulenda, Michał Kostrzewski, Jakub Skrzeczyna, Klaudia Bednarska, Julia Żurek, Marcela Noworolska, Daria Wojtaszkiewicz, Nina Ciećkiewicz, Ewelina Sapała

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