Infrared thermographic imaging in patients with alopecia.

탈모 환자의 적외선 체열 진단상 안면부 체열 특성

  • Yi, Tae-Hoo (Dept. of Oriental Medicinal Material & Processing, College of Life Science, Kyung Hee University) ;
  • Moon, Jung-Bae (Dr. Hoo Korean Medicine clinic) ;
  • An, Kyung-Eh (Dept. of Oriental Medical Science, Graduate School of East-West Medical Science, Kyung Hee University) ;
  • Lee, Hye-Jung (Dept. of Oriental Medical Science, Graduate School of East-West Medical Science, Kyung Hee University)
  • 이태후 (경희대학교 생명과학대학 한방재료가공학과 향장생리학교실) ;
  • 문정배 (닥터후 생장 한의원) ;
  • 안경애 (경희대학교 동서의학대학원 한의과학과 침구경락과학 연구센터) ;
  • 이혜정 (경희대학교 동서의학대학원 한의과학과 침구경락과학 연구센터)
  • Published : 2006.12.30

Abstract

Objectives: To examine any potential relationships between the types of alopecia and the facial heat distribution in patients with alopecia Methods: 183 patients with alopecia participated in this study to provide facial heat distribution measured by the Infrared Thermography Scanner (ITS, Nec San-ei Instruments Ltd, Japan). The thermography scan was used in a light-and heat-protected room after 20 minutes’of resting period. 1.5m of distance maintained between the patients and ITS. Results: Specificity in the type of facial heat distribution was found as follow. 1. Types of facial heat distribution can be classified as T-type and diffused patterns. 2. There was a significant difference in the pattern of facial heat distribution among different types of alopecia (p=0.002): facial heat distribution appeared T-type in Androgenic Alopecia, Alopecia Areata, and Telogen Effluvium (71.3%, 85.7%, 70.4%), whereas diffused pattern was dominant in Seborrheic Alopecia(55.6%). 3. There was a significant difference in the pattern of facialheat distribution between men and women (p<0.001): While the T-type and diffused type were equally appeared in men (50.6%: 49.4%), T-type was dominant in women (88.0% vs. 12.0%). Conclusions: We conclude that the pattern of facial heat distribution differs depends on the types of alopecia and gender. These differences may provide useful information for the diagnosis and clinical therapy for this population.

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