Trichology is the study of the

hair Hair is a protein filament that grows from follicles found in the dermis. Hair is one of the defining characteristics of mammals. The human body, apart from areas of glabrous skin, is covered in follicles which produce thick terminal and f ...

and

scalp The scalp is the anatomical area bordered by the human face at the front, and by the neck at the sides and back. Structure The scalp is usually described as having five layers, which can conveniently be remembered as a mnemonic: * S: The ski ...

. The term derives from

Ancient Greek Ancient Greek includes the forms of the Greek language used in ancient Greece and the ancient world from around 1500 BC to 300 BC. It is often roughly divided into the following periods: Mycenaean Greek (), Dark Ages (), the Archaic peri ...

θρίξ (''thríx''), "hair" and -λογία ''

-logia ''-logy'' is a suffix in the English language, used with words originally adapted from Ancient Greek ending in ('). The earliest English examples were anglicizations of the French '' -logie'', which was in turn inherited from the Latin '' -logi ...

''. In most jurisdictions the title of a ''trichologist'', not the field of trichology, is considered a para-medical discipline. The Institute of Trichologists was founded in 1902. The first journal for the field,

International Journal of Trichology The ''International Journal of Trichology'' is a biannual peer-reviewed open access medical journal published by Medknow Publications on behalf of the Hair Research Society of India. The journal publishes articles on the subject of trichology inclu ...

, was founded in 2009.

Diseases

Alopecia Hair loss, also known as alopecia or baldness, refers to a loss of hair from part of the head or body. Typically at least the head is involved. The severity of hair loss can vary from a small area to the entire body. Inflammation or scarri ...

Alopecia areata Alopecia areata, also known as spot baldness, is a condition in which hair is lost from some or all areas of the body. Often, it results in a few bald spots on the scalp, each about the size of a coin. Psychological stress and illness are po ...

Alopecia universalis __NOTOC__ Alopecia universalis (AU), also known as alopecia areata universalis, is a medical condition involving the loss of all body hair, including eyebrows, eyelashes, chest hair, armpit hair, and pubic hair. It is the most severe form of alope ...

Frictional alopecia Frictional alopecia is the loss of hair that is caused by rubbing of the hair, follicles, or skin around the follicle. The most typical example of this is the loss of ankle hair among people who wear socks constantly for years. The hair may not gro ...

Frontal fibrosing alopecia Frontal fibrosing alopecia is the frontotemporal hairline recession and eyebrow loss in postmenopausal women that is associated with perifollicular erythema, especially along the hairline.Freedberg, et al. (2003). ''Fitzpatrick's Dermatology in ...

Loose anagen syndrome Loose anagen syndrome, also known as loose anagen hair syndrome, is a hair disorder related to dermatology. It is characterised by the easy and pain free detachment of anagen staged hairs from the scalp. This hair condition can be spontaneous or ...

Pattern hair loss Pattern hair loss (also known as androgenetic alopecia (AGA)) is a hair loss condition that primarily affects the top and front of the scalp. In male-pattern hair loss (MPHL), the hair loss typically presents itself as either a receding front ha ...

(''Androgenic alopecia'') **

Scarring A scar (or scar tissue) is an area of fibrous tissue that replaces normal skin after an injury. Scars result from the biological process of wound repair in the skin, as well as in other organs, and tissues of the body. Thus, scarring is a na ...

and non scarring hair loss *Hair colour **

Canities subita Canities subita, also called Marie Antoinette syndrome or Thomas More syndrome, is an alleged condition of hair turning white overnight due to stress or trauma. The trivial names come from specific cases in history including that of Queen Marie An ...

Premature greying of hair Premature greying of hair (PGH), also known as canities, can have negative effects on appearance, self-confidence, self-esteem, and social acceptance of the affected individual. Hair is said to have greyed prematurely if it occurs before the age of ...

* The hair root &

hair follicle The hair follicle is an organ found in mammalian skin. It resides in the dermal layer of the skin and is made up of 20 different cell types, each with distinct functions. The hair follicle regulates hair growth via a complex interaction between h ...

disorders **

Telogen effluvium Telogen effluvium is a scalp disorder characterized by the thinning or shedding of hair resulting from the early entry of hair in the telogen phase (the resting phase of the hair follicle).Marks, James G; Miller, Jeffery (2006). ''Lookingbill and ...

Trichostasis spinulosa Trichostasis spinulosa is a common but rarely diagnosed disorder of the hair follicles that clinically gives the impression of blackheads, but the follicles are filled with funnel-shaped, horny plugs that are bundles of vellus hairs.James, William ...

Hirsutism Hirsutism is excessive body hair on parts of the body where hair is normally absent or minimal. The word is from early 17th century: from Latin ''hirsutus'' meaning "hairy". It usually refers to a "male" pattern of hair growth in a female that ...

Trichomegaly Trichomegaly is a congenital condition in which the eyelashes are abnormally long, greater than 12mm in the central area and 8mm in the peripheral. The term was first used by H. Gray in 1944 in a publication in the Stanford Medical Bulletin, though ...

*Pathogenic **

Microsporum audouinii ''Microsporum audouinii'' is an anthropophilic fungus in the genus ''Microsporum''. It is a type of dermatophyte that colonizes keratinized tissues (primarily hair) causing infection. The fungus is characterized by its spindle-shaped macroconidia ...

Piedraia hortae ''Piedraia hortae'' is a superficial fungus that exists in the soils of tropical and subtropical environments and affects both sexes of all ages. The fungus grows very slowly, forming dark hyphae, which contain chlamydoconidia cells and black co ...

Tinea capitis Tinea capitis (also known as "herpes tonsurans", "ringworm of the hair", "ringworm of the scalp", "scalp ringworm", and "tinea tonsurans") is a cutaneous fungal infection (dermatophytosis) of the scalp. The disease is primarily caused by dermatoph ...

Trichobacteriosis axillaris ''Trichobacteriosis axillaris'' is a superficial bacterial colonization of the hair shafts in sweat gland–bearing areas, such as the armpits and the groin. It is a trivial disease of worldwide occurrence that is believed to be caused by the genu ...

Diagnosis

Blood test A blood test is a laboratory analysis performed on a blood sample that is usually extracted from a vein in the arm using a hypodermic needle, or via fingerprick. Multiple tests for specific blood components, such as a glucose test or a cholester ...

Vitamin deficiency Vitamin deficiency is the condition of a long-term lack of a vitamin. When caused by not enough vitamin intake it is classified as a ''primary deficiency'', whereas when due to an underlying disorder such as malabsorption it is called a ''seconda ...

Hair analysis Hair analysis may refer to the chemical analysis of a hair sample, but can also refer to microscopic analysis or comparison. Chemical hair analysis may be considered for retrospective purposes when blood and urine are no longer expected to con ...

**Scalp Biopsy *

Hamilton–Norwood scale The Hamilton–Norwood scale is used to classify the stages of male pattern baldness. The stages are described with a number from 1 to 7. Overview This measurement Measurement is the quantification of attributes of an object or event, ...

Ludwig scale The Ludwig scale is a method of classifying female pattern baldness (androgenic alopecia), and ranges from stages I to III. Stage I begins with thinning on the top of the head. In stage II the scalp starts to show. All of the hair at the crown ...

Trichoscopy Trichoscopy is a method of hair and scalp evaluation and is used for diagnosing hair and scalp diseases. The method is based on dermoscopy. In trichoscopy hair and scalp structures may be visualized at many-fold magnification. Currently magnificati ...

Subspecialties

Trichology includes subspecialties that deal either with certain diseases or diseases of certain parts of the hair. Some of them are: *

Hair cloning Hair multiplication or hair cloning is a proposed technique to counter hair loss. The technology to clone hair is in its early stages. Experts previously assumed that in the case of complete baldness, follicles are completely absent from the scal ...

Hair removal Hair removal, also known as epilation or depilation, is the deliberate removal of body hair or head hair. Hair typically grows all over the human body and can vary in thickness and length across human populations. Hair can become more visible ...

Management of hair loss The management of hair loss, includes prevention and treatment of alopecia, baldness, and hair thinning, and regrowth of hair. Prevention Scratching of itchy scalp may contribute to hair loss. Health Body weight Prevention of obesity helps. O ...

Hair transplantation Hair transplantation is a surgical technique that removes hair follicles from one part of the body, called the 'donor site', to a bald or balding part of the body known as the 'recipient site'. The technique is primarily used to treat male patt ...

Cosmetic

*Hair care **

Curly Girl Method The Curly Girl Method is an approach to hair care designed by author Lorraine Massey for natural hair (coils, waves and curls) that has not been chemically relaxed. This method discourages the daily use of sulfate shampoo, which is considered ...

*Hygiene **

Dry shampoo Dry shampoo otherwise known as hybrid shampoo is a type of shampoo which reduces Greasy hair, hair greasiness without the need for water. It is in powder form and is typically administered from an aerosol can. Dry shampoo is often based on corn sta ...

Treatment

Collagen induction therapy Collagen induction therapy (CIT), also known as microneedling, dermarolling, or skin needling, is a cosmetic procedure that involves repeatedly puncturing the skin with tiny, sterile needles (microneedling the skin). CIT should be separated from o ...

**Microneedling *

Low-level laser therapy Low-level laser therapy (LLLT), cold laser therapy, or photobiomodulation (PBM) is a form of medicine that applies low-level (low-power) lasers or light-emitting diodes (LEDs) to the surface of the body. Whereas high-power lasers are used in la ...

Platelet-rich plasma Platelet-rich plasma (PRP), also known as autologous conditioned plasma, is a concentrate of platelet-rich plasma protein derived from whole blood, centrifuged to remove red blood cells. Though promoted to treat an array of medical problems, evide ...

*Oral or topical pharmaceuticals **

Antiandrogen Antiandrogens, also known as androgen antagonists or testosterone blockers, are a class of drugs that prevent androgens like testosterone and dihydrotestosterone (DHT) from mediating their biological effects in the body. They act by blocking the ...

or 5α-Reductase inhibitor’s ***

Dutasteride Dutasteride, sold under the brand name Avodart among others, is a medication primarily used to treat the symptoms of a benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), an enlarged prostate not associated with cancer. A few months may be required before benefi ...

Finasteride Finasteride, sold under the brand names Proscar and Propecia among others, is a medication used to treat hair loss and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) in men. It can also be used to treat excessive hair growth in women and as a part of horm ...

Antifungal An antifungal medication, also known as an antimycotic medication, is a pharmaceutical fungicide or fungistatic used to treat and prevent mycosis such as athlete's foot, ringworm, candidiasis (thrush), serious systemic infections such as crypto ...

***

Ketoconazole Ketoconazole, sold under the brand name Nizoral among others, is an antiandrogen and antifungal medication used to treat a number of fungal infections. Applied to the skin it is used for fungal skin infections such as tinea, cutaneous candid ...

Antihypertensive Antihypertensives are a class of drugs that are used to treat hypertension (high blood pressure). Antihypertensive therapy seeks to prevent the complications of high blood pressure, such as stroke and myocardial infarction. Evidence suggests tha ...

***

Minoxidil Minoxidil, sold under the brand name Rogaine among others, is a medication used for the treatment of high blood pressure and pattern hair loss. It is an antihypertensive vasodilator. It is available as a generic medication by prescription in ora ...

Trichology community

Associations

*International Association of Trichologists (IAT) **American Hair Research Society (AHRS) **Australasian Hair and Wool Research Society **European Hair Research Society (EHRS) **Hair Research Society of India **Korean Hair Research Society (KHRS) **Russian Hair Research Society (RHRS) **Society for Hair Research Japan **Ukraine Hair Research Society (UHRS) **World Congress for Hair Research *The Institute of Trichologists *International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery *The Trichological Society

Journals

*Trichology and Cosmetology

Notable trichologists

Lidia Rudnicka Lidia Rudnicka (born February 19, 1960 in Chicago, Illinois) is a Polish-American dermatologist with contributions to the field of scleroderma research, hair diseases and melanoma prevention. Rudnicka was the chairman of the Department of D ...

Desmond Tobin Desmond John Tobin is an Irish academic, researcher and author. He is a Full Professor of Dermatological Science at University College Dublin and the Director of the Charles Institute of Dermatology. He was Chair of British Society for Investiga ...

Antonella Tosti Antonella Tosti is an Italian physician and scientist with major contributions in the field of dermatology, including developing dermoscopy for the diagnosis and care of hair diseases. Her contributions to knowledge about nails include research abou ...

Cosmetic

* Erkkie-Harris Wells * Mark Constantine * F.J. Cunningham * Philip Kingsley

References

Human hair {{dermatology-stub