Trichology (from the Greek trichos and logos, meaning a hair and a study) is a science of the hair and scalp, subdivision of dermatocosmetology. Trichology studies the structure, growth phases of normal (unchanged hair) and also develops theoretical and practical procedures of prophylaxis of diseases and treatment of the head hair and skin.

Alopecia

Baldness (alopecia) is the pathologic hair loss.

Scarry baldness is due to the destruction of hair follicles resulting from inflammation, skin atrophy or scarring.

Non-scarry baldness runs without the preceding skin lesion (focal, androgenetic, diffuse baldness).

Androgenetic alopecia is a progressing baldness induced by the action of androgens on the hair follicle in individuals with hereditary predisposition.

Synonyms: androgenic alopecia, androgenic hair loss, premature alopecia, ordinary alopecia, male type baldness, chronic diffuse women alopecia. Men are sick considerably more frequent than women. Men are subject to baldness in the following regularity: at the age of 30 – every third; at 50 – every second; at 80 - 80%.

Androgenetic alopecia is rather a common phenomenon in women: 1/3 of all women have more or less pronounced androgenetic alopecia.

At the baldness foci in individuals of both sexes a gradual replacement of long hairs with thin, short, non-pigmented hairs takes place. With the time being, these are replaced with lanugo and then disappear completely.

Clinical pattern in men:

In men the androgenetic alopecia usually begins with the change of normal hair line and formation of M-shaped margin, accompanied by the increase of hair loss area on the sinciput.

This type of hair loss was described by Hamilton (1951), according to whom 5 stages of the disease can be identified:

 Stage I: hair loss along the anterior pilosis margin;

Stage II: formation of bilateral bald patches on the forehead and hair thinning on the sinciput.

Stages III, IV, V: progressive hair loss on the forehead and sinciput, with bald foci fusion resulting in the complete symmetrical baldness on the frontoparietal area.

ANDROGENETIC APOPECIA IN MEN (stages I-IV)

Clinical pattern in women:

Women do not demonstrate any definite type of baldness but show the diffuse hair loss or decrease in the number of hairs in the temporal and frontal regions, with preservation in most cases of the frontal hair line. This type of baldness was described by Ludwig (1977), according to whom 3 stages of the disease can be identified:

Stage I: initial hair thinning in the parietal area, with 1-3 cm wide frontal strip remaining unchanged;

Stage II: apparent hair thinning on the parietal region;

 Stage III: pronounced hair thinning in the wide areas of the frontoparietotemporal region; frontal region remaining unchanged.

ANDROGENETIC ALOPECIA IN WOMEN (according to LUDWIG, 1977)

Telogenic alopecia is named the late type alopecia, because it develops in 2-4 months after the provoking factors.

Distinguished are the physiological telogenic and toxicometabolic baldness.

Physiological telogenic baldness may occur after discontinuation of hormonal contraceptives or in 2-4 months after the delivery, but in a few months the state normalizes. Toxicometabolic baldness develops in copious blood loss, severe infectious diseases, systemic diseases (collagenoses, thyroid gland diseases, hepatitis, systemic lupus erythematosus, malignant neoplasias), diets (deficiency of vitamins, zinc, iron, etc.), psychosomatic alopecia (hard emotional overloads, stresses, operative interventions, accidents).

Anagenic alopecia is a sudden hair loss induced by the action of drugs, chemicals or radiation. This type of hair loss is encountered in severe poisonings (with thallium, arsenic), roentgen irradiation, taking antitumor and other drugs (vinoblastine, vincristine, metotrexat, fluoruracyl, chlormethine, etc.) and heavy metals (mercury, lead. The hair loss is seen in 3-4 weeks after the action of chemicals. This form of hair loss is reversible after its cause elimination, provided that no total necrosis of hair follicles is observed.

 Hair shaft pathology

Thinned hair

In this pathology the hair is of normal appearance and color but thinner than usually. The thinning develops imperceptibly and is often accompanied by diseases involving hair trophism. ше обычного. In a long disease course, the thinning gradually transforms into baldness.

Hair fragility (trichoclasia)

This is the most common hair damage occurring due to various traumas, both physical and chemical. The hair shaft fractures just partly, and some fibers of the cortical layer and envelope remain intact.

 Hair splitting (trichoptilosis)

This pathology may be congenital or acquired. The acquired one occurs due to non-rational use of detergents and washing methods that strongly degrease hair (hard water, frequent washings, mechanical factors). In so doing, the hair tips split longitudinally into two or rarer into three and more parts.

SCALP PATHOLOGIC STATE

Scalp psoriasis

Head lesion may be isolated or concomitant on other parts of the body. It is characterized by strong itching. Patches are covered with thick scales, difficult to detach. Wetting and postaural fissures are possible. Patches may be randomly scattered, or diffuse scalp lesion is possible. In scalp psoriasis, alopecia occurs almost never.

Seborrheic dermatitis is a widely spread chronic disease of the skin rich in sebaceous glands (face, scalp, upper part of the body). It affects 2-5% of the world population. In seborrhea, the overproduction of sebum cutaneum takes place; characteristic are skin reddening and desquamation.

Identified are:

• Dry form (ordinary dandruff), with small thin scales and without signs of skin reddening on the scalp.
• Greasy form, with greasy, parchment-like scales and crusts against the red background, which seat on the scalp skin and hair tight enough producing a slovenly appearance.

To treat the above listed hair and scalp diseases, specialists at the “Medical Club” Clinic carry out:

1. Thorough clinical and laboratory diagnostics involving counseling by physicians (dermatologist, gynecologist, therapist, endocrinologist, etc.), laboratory tests (investigating thyroid hormones, female sex hormones, androgens, etc.), instrumental studies of hair structure, hair follicles and head skin.
2. Effective treatment of baldness and comprehensive treatment of the head skin:
   • mesotherapy
   • programs to treat hair using medical and cosmetic preparations
3. Prophylaxis using professional means for hair and head skin home care.