From Tattoos to Virtual Tools: A Look at the Technology Transforming Hair Clinics

Advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) and imaging technology are transforming the way dermatologists approach scalp health, according to a presentation from 2025 American Academy of Dermatology Annual Meeting in Orlando (AAD 2025).

During her talk, Maria K. Hordinsky, MD, FAAD, professor and chair of the department of dermatology at the University of Minnesota, provided an update on recent advancements in AI-driven tools for diagnosing and treating hair loss. Her talk highlighted how technology is transforming dermatology, and in the assessment of scalp health and treatment efficacy.

Evolution of Clinical Tools

Dr. Hordinsky described the evolution of diagnostic tools, starting with traditional methods like scalp tattoos used to measure hair density. These methods, she explained, have largely been replaced by currently used systems such as HairMetrix and TricoLAB Studio, which uses virtual tattoos to track progress over time. Current widely used clinical tools allow dermatologists to assess critical factors like hair density, follicular health, and fiber diameter with great precision, offering a significantly clearer picture of the patient's condition and of treatment outcomes.

Another useful standout feature of these tools is their ability to visually represent data, empowering both patients and clinicians to better visualize what the instrument measures. Patients can track improvements in hair density and thickness, which Dr. Hordinsky said often provides reassurance when they feel dissatisfied with progress. 

Consumer-grade Devices

In addition to clinical-standard tools, Dr. Hordinsky noted the growing trend of consumer-grade trichoscopic devices. 

"We're in the era of the Amazon trichoscopy devices, so now our patients are able to buy these trichoscopic devices on the internet," she explained. "Now our patients come to clinic with pictures they took when their scalp was itchy or they had a red spot."

While these devices enable patients to monitor their scalp health at home, she pointed out their limitations in comparison to clinical-grade systems. Dermatologists, she argued, must adapt to this trend by integrating patient-sourced data into their assessments, ultimately combining consumer technology with clinical expertise. Dr. Hordinsky also recounted a story of a patient who brought trichoscopy images to her taken by a device purchased on Amazon.

"This patient was excited about sharing these pictures with us, so we said, 'okay, let's take a look at how this compares to what we do in clinic,'" she said, noting that when compared with the clinical tools and techniques employed by the dermatologist, the Amazon trichoscopy results weren't as precise. 

"[Using clinical trichosopy], we were picking up scale, we were picking up more of the scalp background, and we were picking up what the Amazon device was not picking up."

Impression on Patients

Dr. Hordinsky also shared practical insights from her clinical experience, showing how AI-driven imaging tools can track results of treatments like platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy or topical anti-inflammatory therapies. By presenting side-by-side images of scalp health before and after interventions, she said, dermatologists can demonstrate progress in a way that resonates with patients.

"We have to be able to figure out what our patients are bringing to us, and my guess is with the salon spas, we're going to see more and more of this type of technology," she concluded. "As dermatologists, we have to translate that data that we're going to get from those spas and move it into the world of dermatology with the tools that we have available to us to treat scalp health and scalp hair loss."  -by Eric Raible

Source: Hordinsky MK. Artificial intelligence updates for the hair loss clinics. 2025 AAD Annual Meeting, March 7-11, 2025; Orlando.