Evaluation of Scalp Hair Density and Diameter in the Arab Population: Clinical Office-Based Phototrichogram Analysis

BACKGROUND: Knowing normal values of scalp hair thickness and density is beneficial for diagnosing hair disorders, monitoring responses to therapy, performing hair transplants, and conducting relevant research. Such normal values have not yet been studied for Arabs. OBJECTIVE: To assess the hair density and diameter of the Arab population at different scalp sites using phototrichogram. METHODS: A cross-sectional descriptive study was performed at King Saud University Medical City from December 2021 to August 2022. The study was conducted on Arab adults who were not suffering from any hair disorder. The study was conducted using a questionnaire and clinical examination by phototrichogram. RESULTS: A total of 120 participants were enrolled in this study. The mean hair density was 147.1± 7.8 hairs/cm2, and the mean hair diameter was 87±4.9 μm. There were significant differences between hair density (P=0.0001) and diameter (P=0.0001) in different regions of the scalp. Females had higher hair density than males at occiput (P=0.038). CONCLUSION: Arab hair has a higher thickness and lower density than hair of other ethnicities. This needs to be considered when diagnosing and/or treating hair problems in Arabs.