Noninvasive methods and apparatus for monitoring at least one hair characteristic

A noninvasive method for monitoring at least one hair characteristic on a human or animal, comprising

• magnifying a predetermined skin area having reference indicia to provide a first magnified image;
• digitally capturing the first magnified image to form a reference image using only a red color component;
• after a predetermined time period, magnifying the predetermined skin area to provide a second magnified image;
• superimposing the second magnified image using green and blue color components on the reference image to align the reference indicia in the second magnified image with the reference indicia in the reference image;
• and
• digitally capturing the superimposed images to form a treatment image wherein the first and second magnified images are provided by contacting the predetermined skin area with a fiber optic remote head video microscope.

Apparatus for noninvasive monitoring of at least one hair characteristic on a human or animal, comprising

• a fiber optic remote head video microscope;
• means for digitally capturing a first magnified image provided by the microscope to form a reference image;
• and
• means for superimposing a second magnified image provided by the microscope on the reference image and aligning reference indicia in the second magnified image with reference indicia in the reference image.