Interaction between the medical profession, hairdressers and the media in the management of hair loss

Hair problems are attacked at the levels of information supply, trichologic al competence and evidence based medical treatment. The alopecias represent a major health care challenge, and the psychological significance of hair loss has only recently found appreciation in the medical community. They ma y pose a vexing problem for non-specialized physicians,who tend to triviali ze such com plaints, although the patient's perception of abnormality deter mines whether or not advice is sought. Perception of a hair problem is subj ect to sociocultural standards; films and advertisements help determine the threshold for "normality" and what is ''healthy" and "beautiful", a nd the media provide an abundance of undiscriminating information with respect to hair care. Patients with hair problems frequently consult the hairdresser prior to the medical specialist. Thus additional areas of competence should be incorporated into the hairdresser's training qualifications. Besides ma nual, creative and psychological aptitudes, "trichological competence" rela ting to the recognition of mast important hair disorders, recognition of pe rsonal limitations and cooperation with the medical specialist are required . To optimize the interaction between the physician, hairdressers and the m edia, more effective communication and public activities from the medical p rofession are desirable, with success depending on full identification of t he set goals, qualification and adherance to the standards determined by th e medical speciality.