DIPLOMA IN TRICHOLOGY for PERSONS with MEDICAL QUALIFICATION

Course review – 04-10-2022

This course is scheduled to take 24 months but may of necessity be extended to include any delay or re-presentation of essays and any additional topics.

To enrol please e-mail the Registrar.

Trichology is the science of Human Scalp & Hair in health, disease and distressed circumstances. This course provides the vehicle to obtaining The Trichological Society’s Diploma in Pure-Trichology (with entitlement to use the post-nominal letters LTTS and the opportunity to be listed on its Portal).

The Society welcomes medical practitioners and others with medical qualification who seek training in trichology to review and apply for this part time course.

Dermatologists / Surgeons are welcomed into subscription membership by TTS under the listing Physicians / Surgeons without further requirement. However, where a listing under Trichologists is sought the candidate is required to present a series of essays on the hair and scalp conditions / diseases (form the syllabus below) and at the conclusion to submit to a viva examination historically held in London during May (or such date as decreed by the TTS Governors).


COURSE STRUCTURE

This course is primarily conducted by distance learning (an up-to-date computer equipped for internet and email is therefore essential). Where possible Non-UK candidates should seek attendances at local dermatology / trichology practices for observational study, but as a significant number of hair deformities / diseases exist, and many are rare, it is unlikely that live subjects suffering each will be available for study during the lifetime of this course. It is therefore a necessity that each participant in this course collects an extensive personal library of pictures from which to become familiar with each disease/condition.

The course is part-time and has 2 Sections, each must be completed fully. The course which takes 2 years requires that 20 essays are submitted during each academic year at a constant rate of 2 per month (none during the vacation months of December and August). An essay must  be received by the College on the 7th and 21st day of each of the 10 months of each academic year.  Each essay should be an extensive academic work (where possible containing pictures) which has been researched using Internet and textbooks (recommended text books are listed herein).
All essays must be written in the author’s own words and  submitted via e-mail to TTS (plagiarism testing is routinely conducted).
All essays relative to scalp and hair conditions/diseases must (where possible) include an aetiology, diagnosis and prognosis together with any recommendations as to treatment regimes.
If the TTS appointed external independent examiner suggests further work is required on an essay, it should be carried out as a matter of priority. This could delay the course completion which would incur additional monthly costs.

End of course Viva Voce examinations are held in London usually during early May each year, but may where candidates reside in far-off lands be conducted by internet or other means.

A credit for each assignment essay (listed below) must be gained prior to the examination invitation. Any three starred* topics may be submitted as one essay.

THE COSTS

Academic course fee  Based on the intended 24 months duration = £4800.00  However this will be increased pro rata if new topics are introduced or Candidates fail to submit 20 essays as required per annum.
Payment options are:
An annual payment of £2400 to be received prior to the commencement of each academic year.
24 monthly payments of £200 by Bank Direct Debit or PayPal (http://www.hairscientists.org/pay).  TTS is a not-for-profit body and therefore requires candidates to pay any charges incurred. Monthly receipts are not provided.
The fee to the College includes the marking of 20 assignments per year at the rate of 2 per month (essays must be received on 7th and 21st days thereof excluding December and August) and the examination.
Additional costs
i)    Purchase of text books.
ii)   Attendances at various recommended UK practices for observation (charges are £100 per day paid directly to the practitioner on the day.  Professor B Stevens charges £50 per hour for private tutorial visits to his practice in Gidea Park, Greater London RM2 6AU.
iii)  Expenses involved with travel and hotel accommodation  when visiting  London for tutorials and the examination.


ENROLMENT PROCEDURE

A prospective candidate seeking enrolment should email The Registrar for an Application for Enrolment Form.

This will usually be sent by email.

On completion this is to be returned to The Registrar by email.

The College will then review the application and inform the applicant accordingly.

Successful applicants will be offered a place on the course to commence on the first day of any preferred month (not August or December).


CANCELLATION OF A COURSE

No refunds of academic fees will be considered where a candidate drops-out, fails to complete any part of the course as required, or takes a gap period without the prior agreement of TTS Governors.


GENERAL INFO.

Hair science is an area of continuing research, therefore there may be updates and additions to the syllabus at any time which could extend the course.

Too much well-presented information is never criticised. Diagrams / pictures are encouraged.  Words guides are not generally given because written material will vary in length according to individual composition styles. However the importance of including all relevant data and points of interest cannot be overstated.

An essay for each and every topic listed herein must be submitted. Each must be accepted by the examiners. The head of college will require to meet candidates during each year of their courses to assess progress (this is usually conducted on a one-to-one tutorial day. The examination (at the end of the final year) is essentially viva/voce is usually held in London during early May prior to the President’s Day/Graduation day.


SYLLABUS

 HAIR and SCALP CONDITIONS (time allowed – 24 months)  Fee – £4800
                                           

Many of the topics in this section will constitute extensive essays which will take time to research effectively to satisfy TTS academic standards.
it is also important to undergo some clinical experience. Where convenient candidates are welcome at their mentor’s clinical practice in UK. Where distances are great and visits to UK are problematic, candidates are advised to gain some visual experiences from a local dermatology department.

As many of the conditions listed herein are rare, it is unlikely that candidates will see live examples of them during infrequent practical sessions. The recommendation is therefore that the candidate collects an extensive  photographic library from which to become acquainted with the visual symptoms of all conditions/diseases. Illustrated dermatology textbooks are therefore recommended.

THE TOPICS

Topics suffixed with a star * indicate that essays will generally be short. In these circumstances three such topics may be submitted as one essay.

1. The Skin. This work will include a detailed explanation of its structure and function but will exclude any detailed description of the pilo-sebaceous follicle, nails and hair/skin diseases/deformities, which will each be the focus of future individual assignments Dermatologists are excluded from this essay.

2. The Hair. This extensive work will include a detailed morphology from conception, in-depth accounts of hair type (Afroid, Caucasoid Mongoloid) physical / chemical structure, development, growth cycles (anagen, catagen, telogen and exogen) and follicular re-genesis, post puberty development, pigmentation, genetic factors, natural curl, density and other specific characteristics but exclude diseases which will each be the focus of future individual assignments. It is inevitable that some material included herein will be presented in other essays.

3. The Nails – include a detailed account of physical structure, growth cycles. Mention pigmentation and diseases (with photographs were possible).

4. Acne Necrotica Miliaris* & Varioliformis*

5. Acquired progressive kinking.

6. Alopecia areata, totalis and universalis.

7. Androgenetic alopecia in males –include details and discussion regarding modern drug therapies, surgical hair replacement techniques, and non-surgical hair replacement.

8. Androgenic alopecia in females – include details and opinion on currently used drug therapies and suitability to surgical hair replacement. Discuss non-surgical replacement methods.

9. Bubble Hair Syndrome

10. Canities* Leucotrichia* Poliosis*

11. Eczema’s – with special reference to scalp and effect on hair.

12. Effluvium’s (anagen, telogen, loose anagen syndrome)

13. Favus

14. Folliculitis Decalvans

15. Frontal Fibrosing Alopecia

16. Hair Pigmentation Chemistry – Mention the chemistry, function and source of melanin, its distribution and the consequences of its absence.

17. Hair fall associated with fever

18. Hair fall associated with eating disorders (bulimia, anorexia nervosa)

19. Herpes (Shingles)

20. Hirsutism (include differential diagnosis with hypertrichosis)

21. Hyperkeratosis Cystica Follicularis*

22. Hypertrichosis (include reference to congenital hypertrichosis, congenital syndromes and metabolic disorders, prepubertal and X-linked hypertrichosis)

23. Idiopathic Trichoclasia*

24. Impetigo – with special reference to scalp and effect on hair

25. Lichen Planus (Planopilaris)

26. Lupus Erythematosus (discoid and systemic)

27. Malignant Melanomas – with special reference to scalp
Non-Melanoma skin cancers – with special reference to scalp

28. Monilethrix*

29. Neurodermatitis

30. Nutrition and hair health

31. Pediculus capitis – mention the body and pubic louse and discuss the treatments available

32. Pemphigus – with special reference to scalp

33. Pityriasis (‘Seborrhoeic dermatitis’) with special reference to scalp and effect on hair. (Include graphic descriptions of each together with recommendations as to treatment regimes – include photos where possible.

34. Plica Polonica

35. Porphria (congenital or erythropoietic) and hypertrichosis

36. Post-natal alopecia

37. Pseudo-pelade (Brocq)

38. Psoriasis of the scalp

39. Dermatophytosis Capitis (Ringworm) with special reference to scalp and effect on hair. Include details of anthropophilic and zoophilic      fungi, microspora, trichophyta, epidermophyta

40. Serum Ferritin, Serum Iron, Vitamin B12 and hair status

41. Thyroid functions and hair status – mention hair loss and changes in characteristics

42. Traction Alopecia

43. Trichokinesis

44. Trichorrhexis Nodosa

45. Trichomycosis Nodosa*

46. Trichothiodystrophy

47. Trichoptilosis*

48. Trichonodosis*

49. Trichosporosis*

50. Trichotillomania* Trichophagy*

51. Trichotemnomania*

52. Trichoteiromania*

53. Uncombable hair syndrome*

54. Urticaria with special reference to scalp and effect on hair

55. Vitiligo with special reference to scalp and hair

56. Woolly Hair Syndrome

57. Cyclical hair growth changes associated with pregnancy.

58.  CCCA  Central Centrifugal Cicatizing Alopecia


SUGGESTED TEXTBOOKS

Diseases of the Hair and Scalp (R Dawber) if available.

Disorders of Hair Growth Diagnosis and Treatment by Elise A Olsen (2nd Edition)

Blume-Peytavi, U. at all. Hair Growth and Disorders.


MENTORS (to be assigned)
Each will be appropriately qualified and experienced.

          STUDY ASSISTANCE (via e-mail): Anytime with the assigned Mentor – or with TTS Office.


  SURGERY, HAIR PROCESSING PROCEDURES 

THE TOPICS

Detailed  essays are required on the following topics.

Surfactants Chemistry: Demonstrate a clear understanding of the chemicals used in the manufacture of shampoos and the national laws governing their formulation and manufacture. Mention any known adverse reactions thereto.

Hair Processing Observation (minimum 10 hours) The areas of interest are chemical procedures including permanent waving, relaxing, straightening, bleaching and colouring techniques. Verification is required.

Hair Processing Essay: This is to confirm a clear understanding of the chemical and physical procedures involved in current hairdressing procedures which can be a threat to health or damage scalp and hair.
Provide
 detailed explanations of the formulation and use of hair bleaches, tints (oxidative and non-oxidative), relaxers (hydroxides), straighteners (reducing agents), permanent waving chemicals (thioglycollates) and oxidative products e.g. hydrogen peroxide, ammonium persulphate etc.
Trichologists need to thoroughly understand the potentially damaging / injurious / even life threatening / attributes of some products which can include;  allergic contact dermatitis, allergic irritant dermatitis, oxidative cleavage, trichorrhexis nodosa, bubble hair syndrome, anaphylaxis, full depth scalp burns etc.
This essay should mention the importance of routine testing for allergic reactions (which may present at any time in anyone irrespective of history) and hair-shaft intolerance thereto.   Mention the risks associated with high temperature thermal styling irons and driers and of cornrowing, braiding, plaiting,  hair extensions etc.the chemical and physical procedures
viz bleaching, dying, permanent waving, hair relaxing, extensions, braiding corn-rowing etc
involved in current hairdressing procedures. 

Hair Restoration Surgery – A one day observation session with a surgeon who specialises in these procedures – followed by a fully descriptive essay.  Such observation of this specialised surgical procedure is included for interest only.  It is not intended as a tutorial for emulation. 


PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE

Overseas students will be expected (where possible) to attend a specialist clinical practice or dermatology department in their locality.  Well illustrated dermatology textbooks are otherwise recommended. The Registrar will be happy to discuss any problems you may have (UK 07742 336 337 or Registrar

 EXAMINATION

Candidates who have completed the academic work and are considered to be of sufficient standard to enter the examination will be invited to do so.
The examinations take place each year in May, .The Governors may as a special concession consider conducting an examination at other times or via the internet.

The examination will be mainly viva/voce, diagnoses, prognosis, and discussion regarding treatment options and the performance of any recommended treatments. In the unlikely event of failure or last minute cancellation by the candidate, a re-examination date will be convened at the candidates expense. Overseas candidates may be examined using internet technology.


GRADUATION

The President’s Day & Graduation Ceremony was historically been held annually in UK. Graduands (wearing the academic robes and colours of TTS) receive their Diplomas from the President in the presence of Family and Friends.  However the Covid-19 pandemic was highly disruptive and the event cancelled. It is to be hoped that some form of ceremony will be introduced in 2023.

           


OTHER  INFORMATION

MENTORS will be appropriately qualified and experienced persons.

STUDY ASSISTANCE (via e-mail): Anytime with the assigned Mentor – or with TTS Office

This overview presents the current syllabus and course details (as at 04-10-2022). As the science of pure trichology advances The Trichological Society reserves the right to implement changes to its courses and additions to the curriculum which may inadvertently extend the course. Candidates should therefore refer to this page from time to time.

ACCOMMODATION

Reasonably priced accommodation (to be funded by the student) is available at local Hotels.

We hope this overview has been helpful and informative.  Please address any questions to THE REGISTRAR

As the science of hair develops, additional topics may be added to the syllabus which will extend the course duration.
The College reserves the right to make changes to the syllabus at any time.  Candidates  are therefore advised to make regular reference to these pages throughout the course and meet any additional requirements with understanding.

© The Distance Learning College of Trichology