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PROPERTIES OF THE
HAIR AND SCALP
UNIT II – part 3
 LO. 7 - After reading the next few sections,
you will be able to:

Learn to identify the most

common hair and scalp
disorders seen in the salon
and school, and then name
which ones a physician
should treat.
 Recognize disorders of the hair
The following disorders of the hair range from those that are
commonplace and not particularly troublesome to those that are far
more unusual or distressing:

1. Canities- is the technical term for gray

hair.
Canities result from the loss of the hair’s natural
melanin pigment.
Other than the absence of pigment, gray hair is
exactly the same as pigmented hair.
The two types of canities are congenital and
acquired.
A. Congenital canities -
exists at or before
birth.
It occurs in albinos, who are
born without pigment in the
skin, hair, and eyes, and
occasionally in individuals with
normal hair.
A patchy type of congenital
canities may develop either
slowly or rapidly, depending on
the cause of the condition.
B. Acquired canities -
develops with age and is
the result of genetics.
 Although genetics is also
responsible for premature
canities, acquired canities may
develop due to prolonged
anxiety or illness.
2. Ringed Hair - is a
variety of canities,
characterized by
alternating bands of
gray and pigmented
hair throughout the
length of the hair
strand.
3. Hypertrichosis - also known as hirsuties (hur-
SOO-shee-eez), is a condition of abnormal growth of hair.

 It is characterized by terminal hair growth in areas of the

body that normally grow only vellus hair.

 Mustaches or light beards on women are examples of

hypertrichosis.

 Treatments for hypertrichosis include electrolysis, photo

epilation, laser hair removal, shaving, tweezing, electronic
tweezers, depilatories, epilators, threading, and sugaring.
4. Trichoptilosis - is
the technical term for
split ends.

 Hair conditioning
treatments will soften
and lubricate dry ends
but will not repair split
ends.
 The only way to remove
split ends is by cutting
them.
5. Trichorrhexis nodosa -
is the technical term for
knotted hair.

 It is characterized by brittleness
and the formation of nodular
swellings along the hair shaft.
 The hair breaks easily, and the
broken fibers spread out like a
brush along the hair shaft.
 Treatments include softening
the hair with conditioners and
moisturizers.
6. Monilethrix - is
the technical term for
beaded hair.

 The hair breaks easily

between the beads or
nodes.
 Treatments include
hair and scalp
conditioning.
7. Fragilitas
Crinium - is the
technical term for
brittle hair.

 The hair may split at

any part of their length.
 Treatments include hair
and scalp conditioning
and haircutting above
the split to prevent
further damage.
 Recognize disorders of the scalp
The skin is in a constant state of renewal. The
outer layer of skin that covers your body is
constantly being shed and replaced by new
cells from below.
The average person sheds about nine pounds
of dead skin each year. The skin cells of a
normal, healthy scalp fall off naturally as
small, dry flakes, without being noticed.
 Dandruff can be easily mistaken for dry scalp
because the symptoms of both conditions are a
flaky, irritated scalp, but there is a difference.
 Dandruff commonly produces an oily scalp, but—
just as the name indicates—the scalp is dry with
the condition of dry scalp.
 The flakes from a dry scalp are much smaller and
less noticeable than the larger flakes seen with
dandruff.
 Dry scalp can result from contact dermatitis,
sunburn, or extreme age, and is usually made
worse by a cold, dry climate.
Pityriasis- is the technical term for
dandruff, which is characterized by the excessive
production and accumulation of skin cells.

 Instead of the normal, one-at-a-time shedding

of tiny individual skin cells, dandruff is the
shedding of an accumulation of large, visible
clumps of skin cells.
 Although the cause of dandruff
has been debated for many years,
current research confirms that
dandruff is the result of a fungus
called malassezia (mal-uh-SEEZ-
ee-uh).
 Malassezia is a naturally occurring fungus
that is present in all human skin but causes
the symptoms of dandruff when it grows out
of control.
 Some individuals are also more susceptible
to malassezia’s irritating effects.
 Factors such as stress, age, hormones,
and poor hygiene can cause the fungus to
multiply and dandruff symptoms to worsen.
 Modern antidandruff shampoos contain
the antifungal agent’s pyrithione zinc,
selenium sulfide, or ketoconazole that
control dandruff by suppressing the
growth of Malassezia.
 Antidandruff shampoos that contain
pyrithione zinc are available in a variety of
formulas for all hair types and are gentle
enough to be used every day, even on
color-treated hair.
Frequent use of an antidandruff
shampoo is essential for controlling
dandruff.

And although good personal hygiene and

proper cleaning and disinfecting are
important, dandruff is not contagious.
 There are two principal types of
dandruff:

Pityriasis capitis simplex

(pit-ih-RY-uh-sus KAP-ih-tis SIM-pleks)

Pityriasis steatoides
(pit-ih-RY-uh-sus stee-uh-TOY-deez)
1. Pityriasis Capitis Simplex - is the technical
term for classic dandruff that is characterized by
scalp irritation, large flakes, and an itchy scalp.

 The scales may attach to the scalp in masses, scatter

loosely in the hair, or fall to the shoulders.

 Regular use of antidandruff shampoos, conditioners,

and topical lotions is the best treatment.
2. Pityriasis Steatoides - a more severe case of
dandruff characterized by an accumulation of greasy or
waxy scales, mixed with sebum, that sticks to the
scalp in crusts.

 As explained in Chapter 8, Skin Disorders and

Diseases, when this condition is accompanied by
redness and inflammation, it is called Seborrheic
Dermatitis.
 Seborrheic dermatitis also can be found in the
eyebrows or beard.
 You should not perform a service on
anyone who has dandruff, as the scalp is
irritated and itchy.

 Antidandruff shampoo can be

recommended to a client with mild
conditions, but anyone with severe
conditions must be referred to a
physician.
 Fungal Infections (Tinea)
 Tinea (TIN-ee-uh) - is the technical term for
ringworm.
 It is characterized by itching, scales, and,
sometimes, painful circular lesions. Several
patches may be present at one time.
 Tinea is caused by a fungal organism and not a
parasite, as the old-fashioned term ringworm
seems to suggest.
 Tinea infections are named for the part or
location of the body they infect.
 All forms of tinea are contagious and can be easily
transmitted from one person to another.

 Infected skin scales or hairs that contain the fungi

are known to spread the disease.

 Bathtubs, swimming pools, and unclean personal

articles are also sources of transmission.

 Practicing approved cleaning and disinfection

procedures will help prevent the spread of this
disease in the salon.
1. Tinea Capitis - sometimes called “ringworm
of the scalp,” is another type of fungal infection
characterized by red papules, or spots, at the
opening of the hair follicles.

 The patches spread and the hair becomes

brittle.

 Hair often breaks off leaving only a stump or

the hair may be shed from the enlarged open
follicle.
2. Tinea barbae - a superficial fungal infection caused
by a variety of dermatophytes that commonly affects
the skin.
 It is primarily limited to the bearded areas of the face
and neck or around the scalp. It is similar to tinea
capitis in appearance.
 You should not perform a service on anyone who has
or who you suspect may have tinea barbae.
 A client with this condition must be referred to a
physician for medical treatment
Dermatophytes - are a unique group of fungi that infect keratinous tissue and are able to
invade the hair, skin, and nails of a living host. This closely related group of organisms can be
categorized into one of three genera: Trichophyton, Microsporum, and Epidermophyton.
3. Tinea Favosa (TIN-ee-uh
fah-VOH-suh), also known as
tinea favus (TIN-ee-uh FAH-
vus) - is characterized by dry,
sulfur-yellow, cuplike crusts
on the scalp called Scutula
(SKUCH-ul-uh).
 Scutula has a distinctive
odor.
 Scars from tinea favosa are
bald patches that may be
pink or white and shiny.
 PARASITIC INFECTIONS
 Scabies - a highly contagious skin disease caused by a
parasite called a mite that burrows under the skin.
 Vesicles (blisters) and Pustules (inflamed pimples with
pus) usually form on the scalp from the irritation caused
by this parasite.
 Excessive itching accompanies this condition and
scratching the infected areas makes the affected area
worse.
 Practicing approved cleaning and disinfection
procedures is very important to prevent the spread of
this disease
You should not perform a service on anyone who has scabies. A client
with this condition must be referred to a physician for medical
treatment.
Pediculosis capitis (puh-dik-yuh-LOH-sis KAP-ih-tis)
is the infestation of the hair and scalp with head lice.
 As these parasites feed on the scalp, it begins to
itch. If the scalp is scratched, it can cause an
infection.
 Head lice are transmitted from one person to
another by contact with infested hats, combs,
brushes, and other personal articles.
 You can distinguish head lice from dandruff flakes
by looking closely at the scalp with a magnifying
glass.
 Properly practicing state board-approved cleaning
and disinfection procedures will prevent the
spread of this infestation. Several nonprescription
medications are available.

 You should not perform a service on anyone who

has head lice.

 A client with this condition must be referred to a

physician or a pharmacist
 bacterial INFECTIONS
 Bacterial infections of the scalp are caused by two
strains of bacteria known as staphylococci and
streptococci. The most common types of
staphylococci infections are furuncles, carbuncles,
and folliculitis.
1. A Furuncle (FYOO-rung-
kul) - is the technical term
for a boil, an acute, localized
bacterial infection of the
hair follicle that produces
constant pain.

 It is limited to a specific area

and produces a pustule
perforated by a hair
2. A Carbuncle (KAHR-
bung-kul) - is an
inflammation of the
subcutaneous tissue
caused by
staphylococci.

 It is similar to a
furuncle but is larger.
3. Folliculitis - an infection of the hair follicles
frequently caused by staphylococcus or other
bacteria.

 Infections are seen as small, white-headed

pimples around one or more follicles.
 Mild folliculitis may heal by itself in a few days
but deep or recurring ones need medical
attention.
 One common example seen in hair salons is
folliculitis barbae, also known as
pseudofolliculitis barbae.

 It is an inflammation of hair follicles caused by

a bacterial infection often caused by
Staphylococcus aureus.

 Outside of healthcare, this is regularly referred

to as barber’s itch or hot tub folliculitis.
 Properly practicing state
board-approved cleaning and
disinfection procedures will
prevent the spread of these
infections.
 You should not perform a
service on anyone who has a
boil, carbuncle, or folliculitis.
 A client with any of these
conditions must be referred
to a physician for medical
treatment.