With infectious complaints or infestations you should explain than you can’t continue with their haircut or treatment and recommend they visit their GP or local Pharmacy. With all scalp conditions remember you are not a doctor. If the client is concerned you should always recommend they seek professional medical advice.
Folliculitis
Infectious?
Yes ✓
Cause: A bacterial infection caused by staphylococcal bacteria.
Symptoms: You will see redness around the follicle and there may be small, yellow pustules in the centre of the follicle around the hair
Advice: Possible contraindication, you may carry out the service if the area can be avoided. Advise them to seek medical attention.
Impetigo
Infectious?
Yes ✓
Cause: A bacterial infection caused by staphylococcal or streptococcal bacteria infecting the upper layers of skin
Symptoms: Small, red spots, which break to produce a thick yellow crust. When they have broken, the spots join together to produce a thick yellow crusted, infectious area
Advice: Do not carry out the service. Recommend they seek medical advice
Herpes Simplex
Infectious?
Yes ✓
Cause: A viral infection. Sometimes follows exposure to extreme heat or cold
Symptoms: The skin may tingle, itch or burn before one or more fluid filled blisters appear
Advice: Possible contraindication, you may carry out the service if the area can be avoided. Advise them to seek medical attention
Warts
Infectious?
Yes ✓
Cause: A viral infection. Warts are caused by the human papilloma virus (HPV)
Symptoms: a small, rough growth resembling a cauliflower or a solid blister
Advice: Possible contraindication, you may carry out the service if the area can be avoided. Advice them to seek medical attention
Tinea Capitis (Ringworm)
Infectious?
Yes ✓
Cause: A fungal parasite which infects the scalp or hair
Symptoms: Circular to oval areas covered with scaly skin which may be red and inflamed and pustules can sometimes be seen. You may also see tiny black dots where hair has fallen out.
Advice: Do not carry out the service. Recommend they seek medical advice
Pediculosis Capitis (Head Lice)
Infectious?
Yes ✓
Cause: An infestation of the head.
Symptoms: You may see moving head lice or non-moving nits/eggs on the scalp.
Advice: Do not carry out the service. Recommend your client treat the infestation with an over the counter treatment.
Scabies
Infectious?
Yes ✓
Cause: an infestation with a parasite - the scabies mite.
Symptoms: Intense itching and a rash. The rash consists of tiny red spots which may scab if scratched. The itchiness will often get worse at night when the skin is warmer.
Advice: Do not carry out the service. Recommend your client seek medical advice.
Pityriasis Capitis (Dandruff)
Infectious?
No ✗
Cause: Over production of skin cells causing flaking on the scalp
Symptoms: The scalp will be itchy and flaky; you may also see patches of red, scaly skin.
Advice: Continue with the service. Recommend they use an over the counter dandruff shampoo or seek medical advice if there is no response to self-care measures
Acne
Infectious?
No ✗
Cause: When hair follicles become blocked.
Symptoms: Greasy skin and whiteheads or blackheads on the face, back and chest. Occasionally if spots become inflamed they may become tender and painful to touch.
Advice: Possible contraindication, you may carry out the service if the area can be avoided.
Seborrhoea/ Oily Scalp
Infectious?
No ✗
Cause: Excessive secretion of sebum by the sebaceous glands.
Symptoms: The affected area can feel unpleasant, and. seem to get dirty quickly. The face and scalp may appear shiny and greasy.
Advice: You can recommend specialist shampoos or milder, more quality products
Psoriasis
Infectious?
No ✗
Cause: Skin cells are reproduced at a faster rate than normal.
Symptoms: Red patches of skin covered by thick silvery-white scales. In extreme cases it can cause temporary hair loss.
Advice: There are shampoos you can buy designed to slow the production of skin cells and give some relief to the discomfort. Natural sunlight and sea water can be good for this condition.You should recommend extreme cases to visit their GP..
Sebaceous Cyst
Infectious?
No ✗
Cause: When sebaceous glands become blocked with sebum.
Symptoms: Small lumps and bumps under the skin that are soft to touch.
Advice: They will usually disappear on their own, you can advice your client to seek medical attention as in extreme situations they can be removed.
Fragilitas Crinium (Split Ends)
Infectious?
No ✗
Cause: Harsh physical or chemical treatments, overheating - including hairdryers and straighteners, weather and chlorine.
Symptoms: Dry, splitting hair ends. The hair may be very coarse and rough.
Advice: Recommend a good cut and conditioning treatments.
Erythema
Infectious?
No ✗
Cause: It has many causes including infection, massage, electrical treatment, acne medication, allergies, sunburn etc. It is also a common side effect of radiotherapy treatment.
Symptoms: Erythema is a redness of the skin or rash that usually erupts after 24 hours, starting on the hands and feet, and spreading to the limbs, upper body and face. It may cause a mild burning or itching feeling.
Advice: Refer to GP or Trichologist.
Androgenic Alopecia (Male Pattern Baldness)
Infectious?
No ✗
Cause: Thought to be caused by hormones and genetics.
Symptoms: Hair loss beginning at the temples or crown of the head.
Advice: None. You can recommend hair products (Regaine, Rogaine), or in extreme circumstances, hair transplants.
Other Alopecia Types
Infectious?
No ✗
Alopecia Areata – Typically causes patches of baldness but can cause complete baldness. Refer to trichologist.
Traction Alopecia – Caused by excessive pulling at the roots. This can be caused by brushing, straightening, plaiting or braiding.
Alopecia Totalis – Complete hair loss which can occasionally be initially caused by Alopecia Areata. Refer to trichologist.
Clatrical Alopecia – Balding due to scaring of the skin caused by physical or chemical injury.
Alopecia Universarlis – An auto-immune disorder that stops the production of hair all over the body.
Trichotillomania
Infectious?
No ✗
Cause: An impulse-control disorder where a person feels compelled to pull their hair out anywhere on their body. There is no known cause but Dr’s believe it is a form of addition to help relieve stress.
Symptoms: Bald patches which are an unusual shape and may affect one side more than the other.
Advice: Refer to GP or Trichologist.
Diffuse Hair Loss – Telogen Effuvium
Infectious?
No ✗
Cause: A loss of hair or general hair thinning that effects the whole scalp of both males and females. It is due to a premature loss of Anagen (growing) hairs and an increase in Telogen (falling) hairs.
Symptoms: A fairly even amount of hair shedding all over the scalp, making the hair appear thinner due to this excessive hair loss.
Advice: Refer to GP or Trichologist
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