The phototrichogram technique yields a quantitative measure of the ratio of Anagen to Telogen phase hair. It is often used in tandem with global photographic assessment, which is useful for determining overall clinical changes in the patient over time in a standardized manner. Global photographs are head shots taken a short distance away from the patient and are different from the up close photographs used in the phototrichogram technique. The patient is usually photographed from the front, top, sides and back to show accordingly the frontal hair line, crown, partition and the vertex (center of the scalp whorl). If there are other features like patchy hair loss on the sides of the scalp then these will be photographed as well. This basic photographic set up gives some good, clear photographs suitable for recording a patient’s progress with their hair loss and hair growth during treatment. However, this photographic set up is not good enough for use in clinical trials and other studies where scalp hair coverage needs to be evaluated in a consistent and quantitative manner. For clinical and research studies, global photographs are taken with a digital photographic system, which is typically incorporated into the trichoscope software. It shall have the same degree of lighting with the hair at the same magnification on the photograph, and the same area of hair visible in the photograph. In this way, over time multiple photographs can be taken of the same person in exactly the same way so that photographs at different time points in a study can be directly compared and analyzed for changes over time. There are certain restrictions to the patient applicable. The person has to agree not to change hairstyle much as different hairstyles can change how thin the hair looks. He/she should also not use cosmetic treatments like having a perm (it thickens the hair fibers) or use hair thickening shampoos (they coat the hair in protein to make the larger), etc.