Skin & Hair Diseases

Before carrying out a practical session on a model, it is very important to assess the condition of their skin and hair. During the consultation process, you must ask the model if they have any contraindications that may prohibit or restrict any applications. If they do have any contraindications, you must assess the condition/ severity of the issue and act accordingly.

Here are a few skin and hair diseases with visual references.

Alopecia

Alopecia is the medical term for what is most commonly understood as hair loss. This disease comes in various forms and can be triggered by different issues. Male Pattern Baldness for example sees the hair of men recede from the hair line. It is a genetic condition and sufferers will most likely have family members with the same issues.

Alopecia Areata is another form of alopecia which is caused by problems within the immune system. It is most commonly found in teenagers and young adults however it can still occur at any age. The majority of alopecia areata sufferers will see their hair begin to grow back about a year after the fall out. It is believed that a person’s genes may make them more likely to contract disease.

It is possible for hair loss to occur as a result of a complication from another condition. This is called scarring alopecia as in this instance, the hair loss is irreversible. Illnesses such as Lichen Planus and Discoid Lupus can completely destroy the hair follicle so it cannot grow back.

Hair loss is frequently associated with the cancer treatment chemotherapy. This type of hair loss is called Anagen effluvium. It is temporary and can affect the face and body as well as the scalp. Usually, patients see their hair begin to grow back after a few months.

Telegen effluvium is the final form of alopecia. It doesn’t to refer to hair loss specifically but thinning of the hair as a reaction to stress of certain medication.

Should you be faced with a model suffering from any of the above forms of alopecia, I think it is first important to establish the severity of the situation. Styling any hair on the head of the sufferer may cause it to fall out prematurely. The best solution in any situation regarding this disease would be to use false hair in the form of a wig to carry out the hair design on.

Eczema

Eczema is a non-contagious dry skin condition. Though the condition varies depending on the person, it is most commonly seen in children. Mild cases involve dry, scaly skin that can be irritant and sore. In more severe cases, eczema can crust and even bleed. Eczema sufferers find scratching the area brings relief to the irritation however it can cause the skin to break and become prone to infection. There are different forms of eczema.

Discoid eczema appears in the size and shape of coins on the lower legs or forearms of a person. They’re slightly bumpy and within days of the patches appearing, they will begin to ooze and become infected. After a while, the disc shapes clear and the skin is left flaky and dry. It is believed the use of certain soaps and detergents, coupled with general eczema, causes this.

Contact Dermatitis

When the skin comes into contact with a certain substance, it can cause a reaction and become inflamed. This is contact dermatitis. It’s a form of eczema that can visually leave the skin looking red and scaly and in severe cases it leads to blistering and breaking of the skin. Though a person is able to contract this disease anywhere on the body, it is most common on the hands.

With irritant contact dermatitis, only the directly contacted area of the skin will react. The symptoms of a reaction can appear within 48 hours however strong irritants many cause a faster response.

Allergic contact dermatitis takes longer to appear. The area of skin in which the direct contact occurred will react however other areas may also be affected.

Acne

When the pores on the skin get blocked, it will bulge outward of the skin forming a small raised bump. Sometimes, bacteria on the skin can contaminate these plugged holes and cause papules or pustules.

Acne is very common in teenagers, triggered by the rise in levels of hormones during puberty. The sebaceous glands in the skin follicles are sensitive to hormones which effects the sebum levels that cause the blockages. It is also thought to be a genetic issue, parents who suffered from bad acne will find their children do too.

Acne in adults is most commonly found amongst women. The most common times of flare up being before their period is due or during pregnancy.The face, chest and back are the areas where acne usually occurs. There are six types of spots that acne causes. These are:

• -        Blackheads
• -        Whiteheads
• -        Papules
• -        Pustules
• -        Nodules
• -        Cysts

Psoriasis

Psoriasis affects a small amount of the population and most commonly develops in adults under 35 years, affecting men and women equally. Like Eczema, the disease varies in severity according to the person. This disease is long lasting with no banishing treatment. If you suffer from psoriasis, patches of your skin, usually on the elbows, knees or scalp, will become red and flaky and will be covered in silvery scales. The irritation can be minor however some suffer considerably from it.

The occurrence of this disease happens when skin cells are replaced faster than normal. A skin renewal process that takes three to four weeks in a non-sufferer will take three to seven days in a psoriasis sufferer. The cells build up and cause the psoriasis.

When faced with a model that may have a skin disease, the necessary precautions must be taken in order to carry out the service safely. Products should be carefully selected so they shan’t aggravate the skin disorder or cause discomfort to the model. If they have a contagious infection, all tools used on the model must be disposed of after use to avoid cross contamination.

Hair loss (alopecia) - NHS Choices. 2013. Hair loss (alopecia) - NHS Choices. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/Hair-loss/Pages/Introduction.aspx. [Accessed 03 December 2013].

National Eczema Society . 2013. : National Eczema Society . [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.eczema.org/. [Accessed 03 December 2013].

Contact Dermatitis - Symptoms - NHS Choices. 2013. Contact Dermatitis - Symptoms - NHS Choices. [ONLINE] Available at:http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Eczema-(contact-dermatitis)/Pages/Symptoms.aspx. [Accessed 03 December 2013].

Acne - Symptoms - NHS Choices. 2013. Acne - Symptoms - NHS Choices. [ONLINE] Available at:http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Acne/Pages/Symptoms.aspx. [Accessed 03 December 2013].

Psoriasis - Causes - NHS Choices. 2013. Psoriasis - Causes - NHS Choices. [ONLINE] Available at:http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Psoriasis/Pages/Causes.aspx. [Accessed 03 December 2013].

Alopecia. Causes & Treatments (UK). Traction Alopecia | Patient.co.uk. 2013. Alopecia. Causes & Treatments (UK). Traction Alopecia | Patient.co.uk. [ONLINE] Available at:http://www.patient.co.uk/doctor/Alopecia.htm. [Accessed 03 December 2013].

Eczema - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. 2013. Eczema - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. [ONLINE] Available at:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eczema. [Accessed 03 December 2013].

Skin dermatitis? Practical, reliable and proven solutions. 2013. Skin dermatitis? Practical, reliable and proven solutions. [ONLINE] Available at:http://www.dermatitis-page.info/. [Accessed 03 December 2013].

Psoriasis - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. 2013. Psoriasis - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. [ONLINE] Available at:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psoriasis. [Accessed 03 December 2013].