CONFOCAL MICROSCOPY OF HAIR

Confocal microscopy is an excellent method for studying the localizati on of fluorescent stains. Used in this way, superior 3D images can be obtained from multiple optical sections with very shallow depth of fie ld. The main advantage of this technique is that the sample is not dam aged. We have taken serial confocal sections of hair and via specific image enhancement routines have obtained high-quality 3D images enabli ng the visualization of cuticle scale and its pattern of distribution. This has been done on various types of hair: bleached, permed and in certain pathological conditions. This first step will allow us to char acterize the hair surface in terms of its roughness, and the distribut ion and form of cuticular scale, parameters that have potential in the assessment of dermocosmetic efficacy.