Healthcare data breaches cost an average of $10.9 million per incident, and health tracking platforms that store your photos, density readings, and treatment history are responsible for protecting that data with the same rigor as any healthcare system. This guide explains exactly how myhairline.ai protects your information at every layer, from the moment you upload a photo to the moment you delete your account.
Why Hair Loss Data Is Sensitive Health Data
Your hair loss tracking data is more personal than many people realize. It includes:
- Facial photographs taken at multiple angles over time
- Health condition data documenting the progression of androgenetic alopecia
- Treatment records including medications (finasteride, minoxidil), procedures (PRP at $500-2,000 per session, FUE transplants), and dosage information
- Biometric measurements such as density readings and Norwood stage classifications
This data reveals health conditions, medication use, and physical appearance changes. In the wrong hands, it could be used for identity theft, discrimination, or targeted harassment.
| Data Type | Sensitivity Level | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| Facial photos | High | Biometric identification data |
| Norwood stage | Medium | Health condition disclosure |
| Treatment records | High | Medication and procedure history |
| Density readings | Medium | Health progression data |
| Provider sharing reports | High | Contains compiled health data |
Encryption Architecture
Data at Rest
Every piece of data stored on myhairline.ai servers is encrypted using AES-256, the same encryption standard used by banks and government agencies. AES-256 has never been broken by brute force. With current computing technology, cracking a single AES-256 key would take longer than the age of the universe.
The encryption works in layers:
- Photo storage: Each image is encrypted individually before being written to storage. The encryption key is derived from your account credentials and a server-side secret, ensuring that neither component alone can decrypt the data.
- Database fields: Density readings, treatment logs, and personal information are encrypted at the field level, not just the disk level. This means a database compromise does not expose readable data.
- Backup encryption: All backups inherit the same encryption. There is no unencrypted copy of your data anywhere in the system.
Data in Transit
All connections to myhairline.ai use TLS 1.3, the latest version of the protocol that secures web traffic. TLS 1.3 provides:
- Forward secrecy: Even if a server's long-term keys were compromised in the future, previously recorded traffic could not be decrypted
- Reduced handshake: Fewer round trips mean faster connections with less exposure window
- No legacy cipher support: Older, weaker encryption algorithms are not available, eliminating downgrade attacks
Zero-Knowledge Photo Storage
The browser-based analysis runs locally on your device. When you use the free analysis tool, your photo never leaves your browser. For users who opt into cloud tracking for long-term density monitoring, photos are encrypted client-side before upload. The server stores encrypted blobs that it cannot read.
This zero-knowledge architecture means that even myhairline.ai staff cannot view your photos. The decryption key exists only in your browser session when you are logged in.
Access Control Framework
Authentication
Account security starts with how you prove your identity:
- Password hashing: Passwords are stored using bcrypt with a work factor that makes brute-force attacks impractical
- Multi-factor authentication (MFA): Optional TOTP-based second factor adds a time-based code requirement
- Session management: Sessions expire after inactivity, and active sessions can be reviewed and revoked from your account settings
- Rate limiting: Failed login attempts trigger progressive delays and eventual account lockout
Authorization
Once authenticated, the system enforces strict rules about what each user can access:
| Role | Can Access | Cannot Access |
|---|---|---|
| Individual user | Own data only | Any other user's data |
| Enterprise clinician | Assigned patients only | Unassigned patients |
| Enterprise admin | Clinic aggregate reports | Individual patient photos (without patient consent) |
| myhairline.ai support | Account metadata only | Photos, density data, treatment records |
| myhairline.ai engineering | System logs only | Any user content |
Role-based access control (RBAC) ensures that no single role has unrestricted access to the entire system.
Compliance Certifications
SOC 2 Type II
SOC 2 Type II certification is the gold standard for SaaS security. Unlike Type I (which checks if controls are designed properly), Type II requires an independent auditor to verify that controls are operating effectively over a sustained period (typically 6-12 months).
The SOC 2 audit covers five trust service criteria:
- Security: Protection against unauthorized access
- Availability: System uptime and reliability commitments
- Processing integrity: Data processing is complete, valid, and accurate
- Confidentiality: Information designated as confidential is protected
- Privacy: Personal information is collected, used, and retained properly
HIPAA Alignment
HIPAA does not automatically apply to consumer health apps. However, when myhairline.ai data is shared with covered healthcare providers through the enterprise plan, HIPAA Business Associate Agreement (BAA) standards apply.
The platform implements HIPAA-aligned controls including:
- Minimum necessary access (users see only what they need)
- Audit logging of all data access
- Breach notification procedures within required timeframes
- Employee security training and background checks
- Physical security for data center infrastructure
Infrastructure Security
Hosting Environment
myhairline.ai runs on infrastructure with the following protections:
- Geographic data residency: Data stays within the region where it was created
- Network segmentation: Application servers, database servers, and storage systems operate on isolated network segments
- DDoS protection: Traffic filtering absorbs volumetric attacks before they reach the application
- Web application firewall (WAF): Filters malicious requests targeting common web vulnerabilities
- Intrusion detection: Automated monitoring flags unusual access patterns for security team review
Vulnerability Management
Software vulnerabilities are addressed through a structured process:
| Severity | Response Time | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Critical (remote code execution) | 4 hours | Emergency patch deployment |
| High (data exposure risk) | 24 hours | Priority patch cycle |
| Medium (limited exposure) | 7 days | Standard patch cycle |
| Low (minimal risk) | 30 days | Scheduled maintenance |
Automated dependency scanning checks all software libraries for known vulnerabilities on every code deployment. Penetration testing by independent security firms occurs quarterly.
What Happens When You Share Data With Your Provider
When you generate a tracking report to share with your dermatologist, the system creates a time-limited, encrypted link. Here is how the sharing flow works:
- You generate a share link from your dashboard
- The link is valid for a configurable period (default 7 days)
- Your provider opens the link and views your density trend, Norwood classification, and treatment timeline
- After expiration, the link becomes permanently inactive
- You can revoke the link at any time before expiration
The share link does not grant the provider access to your full account. They see only the specific report you chose to share, and they cannot modify your data.
Data Retention and Deletion
While Your Account Is Active
All data is retained as long as your account is active. You can delete individual photos, density readings, or treatment log entries at any time. Deleted items are purged from primary storage within 24 hours and from backups within 30 days.
Account Deletion
When you delete your account:
- All personal data is queued for permanent deletion
- Photos are purged from all storage systems within 72 hours
- Backup copies are overwritten within 30 days
- Aggregate, anonymized statistics (used for service improvement) are retained without any link to your identity
- A deletion confirmation is sent to your email address
Data Portability
Before deleting your account, you can export all your data in standard formats:
- Photos in original resolution (JPEG/PNG)
- Density readings as CSV
- Treatment logs as JSON
- Progress reports as PDF
Incident Response
Despite all preventive measures, security incidents can occur. myhairline.ai maintains a documented incident response plan:
- Detection: Automated monitoring systems and security team review identify potential incidents
- Containment: Affected systems are isolated to prevent spread
- Investigation: Forensic analysis determines scope and root cause
- Notification: Affected users and regulators are notified within timeframes required by applicable law
- Remediation: Root cause is addressed and controls are strengthened
- Post-incident review: Lessons learned are documented and applied
The zero-knowledge encryption architecture provides a critical safety net. Even in a breach, encrypted photo data remains unreadable without individual user encryption keys.
How to Maximize Your Account Security
You play a role in protecting your data. Follow these practices:
- Enable MFA: Add a second factor to your login process
- Use a unique password: Do not reuse passwords from other accounts
- Review active sessions: Periodically check your account for unrecognized sessions
- Revoke expired share links: Clean up old provider sharing links you no longer need
- Keep your browser updated: Client-side encryption depends on your browser's security
Learn More About Data Protection
Read about hair loss tracking app privacy for a broader overview of privacy practices, or learn about HIPAA and health data privacy for details on regulatory compliance.
Start tracking your hair loss securely at myhairline.ai/analyze.
This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Consult a board-certified dermatologist for treatment decisions.