Hair and Scalp Analysis
Hair Texture: thickness or diameter of individual hair strand; coarse hair has the largest diameter; medium is most common; fine hair is more fragile
Hair density: measures the number of individual hair strands on one square inch of scalp; classified as low, medium or high (thin, medium, thick); blondes usually have the highest density and red heads have the lowest
Hair porosity: ability of hair to absorb moisture
Hair Elasticity: ability of the hair to stretch and return to its original length without breaking; wet hair can stretch about 50% and dry hair can stretch about 25%
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Hair and Scalp Disorders
Types of abnormal Hair loss
Androgenic alopecia:- hair loss characterized by the miniaturization of terminal hair that is converted into vellus hair; usually caused by genetics, age, or hormonal changes; known as male pattern baldness in men; results in overall thinning of hair at crown in women
Alopecia universalis: complete body hair loss
Alopecia areata:autoimmune disorder that causes the affected hair follicles to be mistakenly attacked by a person’s own immune system; hair loss in spots
Alopecia totalis: complete scalp hair loss
Postpartum alopecia: Temporary hair loss experienced towards the end and after the pregnancy
Alopecia Senilis: Normal loss of scalp hair occuring in old age and is permanent.
Alopecia Syphilitica: caused by syphilis. the non-inflamed bald areas look like molted or moth eaten and may affect the eyebrows and beard. Hair will gro back once disease is cured.
Disorders of the hair
Canities: Tecnical term for gray hair; results from the loss of the hair's natural melanin pigment
ringed hair: also known as Pili annulati; characterized by alternating bands of gray and pigmented hair throughout the hair strand
Hypertrichosis: condition of abnormal hair growth; characterized by growth of terminal hair in areas of the body where only vellus hair normally grows
Trichoptilosis: technical term for split ends
trichorrhexis nodosa: technical term for knotted hair
Monilethrix: technical name for beaded hair (hair breaks easily between the beads or nodes)
Fragilitas crinium: technical term for brittle hair; hairs may split at any part of their length
Disorders of the scalp
Dandruff or Pityriasis: excessive production and accumulation of skin cells
Fungal infections
Tinea: technical term for ringworm; characterized by itching, scales, and sometimes painful, circular lesions; contagious and easily transmitted
Tinea capitis: characterized by red papules or spots at the opening of the hair follicles; patches spread and hair becomes brittle; hair often breaks off leaving only a stump
Tinea barbae: “barber’s itch”; similar to tinea capitis;
Tinea favosa: also known as tinea favus; characterized by dry, sulfur-yellow, cuplike crusts on the scalp called scutula; has a distinctive odor; scars from this are bald patches that may be pink or white and shiny
Parasitic infections
Scabies: highly infectious; blisters and pustules usually form on the scalp; excessive itching makes it worse; do not perform services on someone with scabies
pediculosis capitis: head lice; easily transmitted by contact with infested combs, brushes, hats, and personal items; do not perform services on someone with lice
Bacterial infections
staphylococci are bacteria that infect the skin or scalp
Furuncle: technical name for a boil, an acute localized bacterial infection of the hair follicle that produces constant pain
carbuncle: inflammation of the subcutaneous tissue; similar to a furuncle but larger
Folliculitis: a common skin condition in which hair follicles become inflamed. It's usually caused by a bacterial or fungal infection. At first it may look like small red bumps or white-headed pimples around hair follicles — the tiny pockets from which each hair grows.
