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TRICHOLOGY?
by Tony Pearce RN.
Specialist Trichologist, National Trichology Services
Instyle Magazine, January-February, 2000
 Wouldn’t
know what a trichologist was or why you’d send a client to one?
Read on…
“I can’t help you,
you need to see a trichologist...” was Tom Cruise’s advice to
Nicole in the movie ‘Eyes Wide Shut’ – and I’m still waiting for
her call!
From the days of
ancient Egypt with their precise ruler-straight styles, people
have been preoccupied with growing, cutting and maintaining
their hair. Even Julius Ceaser is said to have worn an oak
laurel whenever in public to hide his balding patch!
Modern trichology,
‘the science of the hair and scalp’, was established in England
in 1912 as the Institute of Trichologists. Although trichology
in Australia is still in its relative infancy, it’s a
well-known, accepted field in western Europe and the US.
I’ve sometimes been
asked, ‘hair, scalp... what’s the third part of “tri” chology?
Well, the textbook definition of trichology is actually “the
paramedical field for dealing with problems of the hair and
scalp.” This encompasses hair loss, hair breakage, infections,
scaling or itchy scalp and excessively dry or oily scalp. And
whilst trichology is all those things, being a trichologist is
so much more – part investigator, counselor, nurse, educator,
writer, stylist, sympathetic ear and shoulder to cry on are just
some of the hats worn as a practising trichologist. Not unlike
the unspoken roles of being a hairdresser!
The Trichologist
– Hairdresser Relationship
It’s not surprising
then that trichology and trichological referral is an integral
part of the services offered by the hairdressing professional.
If hairdressers are the artists who create beautiful hair styles
then trichologists could be seen as the best ‘art supply store’
for those clients whose hair quality falls below expectation.
A client’s regular
hairdresser is often the first person they’ll confide in for any
hair or scalp concerns. With some hair loss sufferers, it’s
usually the hairdresser who makes the client aware of the
problem so most clients look to their hairdresser for the right
professional advice when a hair or scalp problem has emerged.
Once a client has
been seen and appropriately advised/treated by the trichologist,
they should, as a professional courtesy and within the bounds of
client confidentiality, advise the hairdresser about their
condition, treatments recommended or intended referral to
another health professional. In this way, trichologists and
hairdressers work together to provide a complete service for the
benefit of the client. This kind of service usually evokes a
loyalty from the client that ‘cheaper haircuts’ elsewhere cannot
win.
Lastly, potentially
vulnerable clients are at less risk of exposure to unscrupulous
commercial hair ‘clinics’ who play on the anxieties of hair loss
sufferers’ where the significant motivation is large profit.
Trichologists &
Client Consultation
In consultation,
the knowledge and experience of the trichologist is utilised to
establish the nature of the client’s problem. Hair is a very
sensitive ‘barometer’ to imbalances in the body – factors such
as poor nutrition, medical or genetic problems, medication and
stress can adversely affect their hair and skin. By taking a
careful and thorough client history, the trichologist can in
most cases, identify the cause of the problem and where
possible, treat it.
Hair Analysis
As part of the
diagnosis, a trichologist may analyse the hair microscopically
or have it analysed for its mineral levels, or suggest blood
tests be run.
Microscopic
analysis of hair is used to assess structural damage, establish
the rate of hair loss, confirm the presence of fungus or lice,
or identify genetic influences.
Mineral analysis of
the hair in specialised laboratories is used to access the
levels of such minerals as calcium, zinc, copper, magnesium,
chromium, lead, mercury, aluminium and arsenic in the hair.
These levels relate to the body levels where efficient or excess
levels can indicate nutritional or medical problems that are
affecting the hair and skin. For some minerals hair mineral
analysis is actually more accurate than blood tests.
It’s not all
balding men!
It’s actually women
experiencing hair loss, largely from nutritional, medical or
genetic causes, that makes up the majority of trichology
clients, followed by people suffering from scalp psoriasis.
Again, women appear to seek treatment for this distressing
complaint more often than men. Those afflicted with the
embarrassment of alopecia areata comprise the third major group.
Trichologists are
also seeing increasing numbers of younger women with genetic
hair loss. By contrast, psoriasis and other autoimmune
conditions seem to be triggering more in older adults than
previously seen. One suggested reason is that we’re continually
being exposed to new, foreign molecules and andorogen-like (male
hormone) substances which in a susceptible person may trigger a
genetic or autoimmune response. In my opinion, in many cases
it’s no co-incidence alopecia areata begins on the same side of
the head the sufferer holds their mobile phone.
Medical v’s
Natural?
The distinct
advantage trichology enjoys compared to other health related
fields is that it bridges the gap between conventional and
complimentary or natural medicine. This gives the trichologist
the scope and flexibility to select the most appropriate
treatment without being constrained by the limitations of any
one discipline.
There are natural
alternatives to prescription drugs for treating conditions such
as menopause, male balding, alopecia areata and psoriasis. These
natural products have been shown to be as effective, safer and
more economical in clinical trials than their synthetic
counterparts.
However, where
medical conditions are suspected in excessive hair loss, the
clients should be referred to a medical practitioner for
assessment.
There is
undoubtedly a vast array of hair and scalp problems out there,
some of which are straight forward in diagnosis and treatment,
others not so. Overall however, we know they cause varying
degrees of distress or embarrassment to the sufferer. Add to
this the frustration of many whose complaints of hair loss is
often trivialised or dismissed by some medical practitioners as
unimportant. That’s where the expertise of trichologists fills a
much needed void.
Trichology is an
ever-changing, ever-broadening science. The hair and scalp are
not isolated external features of the body but rather they
reflect the wellbeing of many systems which enable humans to
function normally. This diversity is perhaps the most appealing
and challenging aspect of trichology.
About the Author:
Tony Pearce is a Specialist Trichologist
& Registered Nurse. He is a founding member
of the Society for Progressive Trichology &
the official lecturer for Analytical
Reference Laboratory (ARL) for hair loss &
hormone imbalance. He is the Clinical
Director for Trichology of Virginia/DC in
the United States. In Australia he can be
contacted on 02 9542 2700, or through his
website at
www.hairlossclinic.com.au.
Copyright Anthony Pearce
2005. *References for this article available on request
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