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. 2025 Apr;24(4):e70013.
doi: 10.1111/jocd.70013.

An Automatic AI-Based Algorithm That Grades the Scalp Surface Exfoliating Process From Video Imaging. Application to Dandruff Severity and Its Validation on Subjects of Different Ages and Ethnicities

Frederic Flament  1 , Ava Mondji  1 , Chengda Ye  2 , Zeneng Sun  2 , Panagiotis-Alexandros Bokaris  1 , Benjamin Askenazi  1 , Emmanuel Malherbe  2 , Romain Roncin  1 , Aldina Suwanto  1 , Adrien Chretien  1 , Maxime De Boni  2 , Angeline Young  3 , Bianca Maria Piraccini  4   5 , Victoria Barbosa  6 , Guive Balooch  1
Affiliations

An Automatic AI-Based Algorithm That Grades the Scalp Surface Exfoliating Process From Video Imaging. Application to Dandruff Severity and Its Validation on Subjects of Different Ages and Ethnicities

Frederic Flament et al. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2025 Apr.

Abstract

Objectives: To evaluate the technical assets of a new imaging device that, wifi linked to a AI based algorithm, automatically grades in vivo the exfoliating process of the skin, taking dandruff as model.

Material and methods: The hand portable device comprises a camera that possibly uses three illuminating conditions (white LED diffused lamp, cross-polarized white light and UVA rays). The learning phase of the algorithm was built on 3600 images of the vertex area of 234 subjects of different ages and three ethnicities with and without dandruff. This learning phase allowed 15 experts and dermatologists to score regarding a 6-point atlas of dandruff severities, taken as reference. In a second validation phase, 460 images from 192 subjects of different ages and ethnic background/phototypes, were automatically analyzed by the AI based device, allowing to calculate the correlation between expert's assessments and the gradings provided by the device, and, as second indicator, to compute the Mean Average Error (MAE) between both variables.

Results: The values were found significantly correlated (r2 = 0.952; p < 0.001) with an overall MAE of 0.16 grading units, although presenting some differences according to ethnic background and phototypes (0.12-0.24).

Conclusion: This new imaging device coupled with AI-based analysis allows a valid, rapid, and easy determination of the scalp exfoliating process and may represent a complementary help in the diagnosis of dermatologists in some other scalp disorders. Its versatility, easy handling, and immediate AI-based analysis suggest that it may be applied to other cosmetic areas (skincare, makeup, haircare, etc.).

Keywords: age; clinical imaging; dandruff; ethnic groups; exfoliation; scalp.

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Conflict of interest statement

F.F., A.M., C.Y., Z.S., A.B., B.A., E.M., R.R., A.S., A.C. and G.B. are employees of the L'Oréal group. A.Y., B.M.P., and V.B. have received grants and honorarium from L'Oréal.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Photos 1 and 2 showing the view of 1. ScalpConsult Pro device (left) and 2. Its use on the scalp (right).
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
The illuminating system of the ScalpConsult Pro camera. Light source includes a UVA lamp.
FIGURE 3
FIGURE 3
Photos 3 (A–C) (left to right): the images of the same dandruff scalp area (vertex), illuminated by the three different sources (A: white led diffused light, B: cross‐polarized light and C: UVA source, revealing the fluorescence of Porphyrins in orange/red).
FIGURE 4
FIGURE 4
Six‐point standardized photographic scale describing severity of dandruff. Grade 0: absence; Garde 5: very severe.
FIGURE 5
FIGURE 5
For all 460 images of validation phase correlation among experts' gradings and automatic severity scores.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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