Trichology

Trichology is the study of hair and scalp health, including hair growth, disorders, and treatments. It combines knowledge of hair biology, dermatology, and cosmetic care.

Hair follicle: A skin structure that produces a hair shaft and cycles through growth, regression, and rest. The follicle is the living structure trichology examines when assessing hair growth and loss.
Anagen: The active growth phase of a hair follicle’s cycle. Its duration largely determines the maximum length a scalp hair can reach.
Trichoscopy: A noninvasive examination of the scalp and hair using a magnifying dermatoscope. It lets clinicians inspect follicular openings and hair-shaft patterns in suspected disorders.
Androgenetic alopecia: A patterned form of hair loss associated with genetic susceptibility and androgen signaling. Its gradual follicle miniaturization differs from sudden or patchy shedding.
Dermatology: The medical specialty concerned with skin, hair, nails, and their diseases. Dermatology provides the medical framework for diagnosing scalp and hair disorders.
Hair shaft: The visible strand of hair formed mainly from dead, keratinized cells. Its structure and damage reveal how grooming, disease, and environment affect hair.
Telogen effluvium: Diffuse hair shedding caused when an unusually large share of follicles enters the resting phase. It illustrates how stressors can disrupt synchronized follicle cycling.
Hair pull test: A bedside examination that gently pulls a small bundle of hair to assess active shedding. The result can support evaluation of diffuse hair loss.
Alopecia areata: An autoimmune disorder that causes nonscarring hair loss, often in distinct patches. It contrasts immune-mediated patch loss with hormonally patterned thinning.
Cosmetology: The professional practice of improving appearance through services such as hairstyling and hair care. Cosmetic hair care intersects with scalp health but does not replace medical diagnosis.

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Hair stylingNarrower topic: It examines hair's biology and health rather than the techniques used to arrange it.