Dr Sharon Wong on how aesthetic practitioners can embrace hair loss services in their practice

A dermatologist isn’t the most obvious person to seek help from when it comes to a hair problem, but in fact medical trichology (the study of the science of hair) is indeed a branch of dermatology and most definitely falls in the remit of a dermatologist. Some dermatologists, like myself, will choose to develop a particular expertise in this area.

Once I secured my consultant dermatologist post on the NHS I developed a hair loss service alongside my general dermatology clinics, accepting GP referrals for patients with all forms of hair loss. It is a niche area of dermatology but as hair loss is so common, the demand for such a service was high and very quickly a fortnightly clinic became a weekly clinic in order to accommodate the surge in referrals.

Soon after setting up the NHS hair loss service, I also offered the same in the private sector and was consulting patients weekly with all forms of hair loss.

CAUSES OF HAIR LOSS

Genetic – male pattern balding and female pattern hair loss are by far the commonest causes of hair loss.

Causes of hair shedding (telogen effluvium) – medications, emotional stress, nutritional deficiencies, recent ill health, dramatic weight loss, hormone shits (stopping or being on the wrong contraceptives, post pregnancy, menopause).

Alopecia areata – an autoimmune form of hair loss meaning that the patient’s own immune system attacks the hair follicles leading to hair loss.

Scarring forms of hair loss – these are a rarer group of conditions in which inflammation damages a critical part of the upper hair follicle where the stem cells are located and eventually replaces the hair follicle with scar tissue, resulting in permanent hair loss.

Traction - hair loss that results from prolonged and repetitive pulling forces applied to the hair through styling and grooming practices.

HOW I GOT INTO HAIR

So as a consultant dermatologist how did I get into hair? Whilst still a training dermatologist I was studying for exit exams and came to the chapter on hair disorders. I remember thinking how interesting and multi-faceted hair is – there is the very detailed and complex science of hair follicle biology which essentially operates as a mini-organ, repetitively degenerating and regenerating throughout our lives. In contrast you cannot escape the highly aesthetic nature of the product of the hair follicle – the hair fibre itself. However, hair is much more than a beauty asset, it is intimately linked with a person’s identity, their confidence and self-expression. As a clinician I regularly see the damaging effects hair loss has on people – it never is ‘just hair’ to these patients. Hair research is an exciting and rapidly expanding field – with hair cloning, cell-based therapies and the gut microbiome being just a few examples of the therapeutic areas to watch out for in the near future.

Once I had decided to subspecialise in hair disorders I arranged regular visits to dermatologists who already had an established expertise in the area in order to gain more clinical experience. Thanks to Professor Andrew Messenger in Sheffield and Dr Paul Farrant in Brighton who are both highly eminent hair dermatologists, I consolidated my decision to specialise in medical trichology.

It was my interest in hair loss and the many questions I get asked by patients that led me to launch Get Ahead of Hair Loss, a one-day event on September 22 for consumers and professionals to learn more about all things hair loss. From men’s hair loss to the future of treatments and solutions to the psychology of hair loss and the effect it has on your confidence and self-esteem, we have some amazing speakers talking about the subject. I urge anyone interested in the subject – as well as clients who are looking for answers – to come along and network with like-minded people and discover that hair loss is something we can all discuss.

There are a multitude of specialists and professionals who have very specific roles in managing the patient with hair loss and it is fantastic to have that diversity – from hair scientists to trichologists, dermatologists to hairdressers, psychologists to scalp tattooists, wig makers to transplant surgeons. However, the hair industry is not well regulated. The term ‘hair specialist’ is not a protected title and for the public it can be very difficult to be sure they are getting advice and treatment from an adequately experienced and skilled individual.

It is a matter of establishing good working relations, finding professionals who operate with the same work ethic – knowing your own strengths and limitations and to know when to refer onwards and to whom.

I believe working together with hair professionals and attending joint events and societies is key to the future of both industries – Get Ahead of Hair Loss, British Hair and Nail Society (BHNS), International Trichology Congress (ITC) and British Association of Hair Restorative Surgeons (BAHRS)

Hair research is an exciting and rapidly expanding field

WHAT ARE THE IMPORTANT ISSUES SURROUNDING HAIR LOSS AND THINNING?

There is a lot of confusing and misleading information accessible to the public on hair loss/thinning and treatments. There needs to be tighter regulations on the marketing of hair products in what can be realistically achieved – there is a huge difference between a cosmetic product designed to improve the appearance of what you have, versus a treatment that has been scientifically proven to actually improve hair growth/density.

Better public awareness on where they should go/who to see to get help for their hair problem.

The hair supplement industry is huge and yet the amount of scientific data to support routine supplementation for hair loss/thinning is severely lacking. As supplements are regulated by the Food Standard Agency they do not have specific regulations on the claims made by the company – again hugely unethical and misleading. AM

Get Ahead of Hair Loss is a one-day event at 1 Wimpole Street on September 22, 2019, aimed at offering information and inspiration to those suffering from hair loss and thinning, as well as hair experts looking to increase their expertise. Find out more at www.getaheadohairloss.com or on Instagram: @getaheadofhairloss

Dr Sharon Wong is a consultant dermatologist with clinics around London. She is a member of the British Association of Dermatologists (BAD), the Royal College of Physicians (RCP) and the British Hair and Nail Society (BHNS). She is also the founder of Get Ahead of Hair Loss, a one-day event aimed at offering information and inspiration to those suffering from hair loss and thinning, as well as hair experts looking to increase their expertise.