A method for determining the activity state of hair follicles.

A histological method is described for determining the proportion of growing hair follicles in skin samples. A variation of the Sacpic staining method, modified for bulk processing, produces high contrast staining of the principal tissue types present in skin. In particular, the inner root sheath is accentuated, facilitating detection of active follicles. Skin preparations from a range of species are used to illustrate structural characteristics of follicles viewed in cross section at various stages of the hair cycle and to establish criteria for classification of the state of activity of follicles. The hair cycle may be divided into quiescent and active states at the points of rapid transition (early pronanagen and mid catagen). Data from repeated skin biopsies from ferrets and goats are also used to demonstrate quantitative estimation of follicle activity, change in compound follicle size, and the relationship between follicle type and fiber medullation.