Guided by the Expert Consensus on Scalp Health Management [1], CIRS Testing evaluates the scalp health across five parameters, including:

• Dandruff;
• Sebum levels;
• Itchiness;
• Erythema/papules/pustules; and
• The overall hair status.

Figure 1: Indicators for Scalp Health Evaluation

In our last article, Is Your Scalp Healthy? – Scalp Health Evaluation Methods (Part I), we have introduced the evaluation methods for dandruff, sebum levels, and itchiness.

In this article, we will continue with the evaluation methods for erythema/papules/pustules and the overall hair status.

Evaluation Methods for Erythema/Papules/Pustules

• Scalp erythema may present as small patches, large confluent areas, or geographical patterns.
• Papules and pustules may appear as scattered lesions or merge into plaques, exhibiting red, yellowish-red, or brownish-red coloration.
• Follicular pustules often contain a single hair in the center, range from pinhead to soybean-sized, display erythematous bases or surrounding halos, and may present as scattered lesions or coalesce with yellowish crust formation.

Causes of scalp erythema, papules, and pustules include:

Erythema is classified into inflammatory and non-inflammatory. The inflammatory erythema is characterized by the temporary dilation of dermal blood vessels, typically in response to infections or chemical/physical irritants; while the non-Inflammatory erythema is primarily associated with structural vascular malformations.

Papules resulted from localized epidermal thickening and/or proliferation or infiltration of dermal cells, commonly induced by infections or inflammatory conditions.

Pustules developed due to infections or inflammation [1]

Evaluation Methods

1. Expert Analysis

Figure 2 Expert Analysis

2.Intelligent Scalp Analyzer (with visualized images)

Figure 3: Scalp erythema

Figure 4: Scalp Pustules 

3.Intelligent Scalp Analyzer (quantitative analysis results and visualized images can be provided)

Note: the red parts represent the redness area

Figure 5: Scalp redness area

Evaluation Methods for Overall Hair Status

The overall hair status is evaluated based on three primary aspects: hair loss/baldness, white hair, and split ends.

Hair loss/baldness

Hair loss refers to the process of excessive hair shaft shedding, while baldness describes distinct areas of hair absence resulting from abnormal shedding. Hair loss can present in various patterns, for example, localized alopecia is confined to a specific area of the scalp; baldness, however, may present as clearly defined round, oval, or irregular areas of complete hair loss, or even progress to total absence of hair.

Causes of hair loss/baldness:

• Follicular degeneration due to scalp aging.
• Infections, genetic predisposition, environmental factors, nutritional deficiencies, and medications.

Gray hair

Partial or complete graying of hair. It resulted from genetics, oxidative stress damaging pigment cells, and impaired function of pigment stem cells in hair follicles.

Split ends

This refers to the splitting of the hair shaft at the tip. Common causes include:

• Excessive washing or chemical treatments (e.g., dyeing, perming).
• Inadequate nutritional support for hair growth.
• Imbalances in sebum secretion.

Evaluation Methods

1. Trichoscope (quantitative analysis and visualized images can be provided)

Figure 6: The number of hairs in a single hair follicle

Figure 7: Gray hair status

2. Intelligent Scalp Analyzer (quantitative analysis and visualized images can be provided)

Figure 8: The average number of hairs in hair follicles

3. High-Resolution Camera (quantitative analysis and visualized images can be provided)

Figure 9: Spilt ends

Why Choose Us?

Extensive Participant Database: We have an extensive participant database that spans multiple cities across China, assembling a diverse group of participants with varied consumer needs. This ensures CIRS Testing meets the broad requirements of different brands in market research, thereby providing comprehensive and authentic consumer feedback for product efficacy evaluation.

Perfect Laboratory Construction: We possess a full set of professional testing equipment, including dermatoscopes, needle-type moisture test probes, ultra-small transepidermal water loss test probes, and scalp sebum meters. By integrating the expert assessments from dermatologists with various technical approaches, we offer extensive efficacy evaluation services for hair care products.

Whole Industry Chain Services: We provide one-stop services covering the whole life-cycle of a personal care product, which includes cosmetic ingredient development, physical/chemical tests, toxicological tests (in vivo & in vitro), efficacy studies (in vivo & in vitro), ingredient registration, and product registration.

Our team

CIRS Testing Cosmetic Laboratory has been accredited by the China National Accreditation Service for Conformity Assessment (CNAS) and China Metrology Accreditation (CMA). It is also accredited by the National Medical Products Administration.

With complete equipment and excellent technical competence, CIRS Testing Cosmetic Laboratory received recognition for its testing capabilities both domestically and abroad. The Cosmetic Laboratory has created many patents and has maintained close cooperation and in-depth communication with many national laboratories.

CIRS Testing Cosmetic Team is comprised of a marketing team, customer service team, regulatory compliance team as well as the laboratory, with a total of more than 60 staff. The team keeps on enhancing technical skills and improving its cosmetic service system. It is able to provide a one-stop service to clients, including cosmetic regulations consulting, registration/filing, safety efficacy evaluation, and testing.

If you have any needs or questions, please contact us at cosmetic-ck@cirs-group.com.

References

[1] 李春英, 肖嵘, 刘玮, 等. 头皮健康管理专家共识[J]. 中华皮肤科杂志, 2022, 55(10): 843-849.