Trichology is the branch of dermatology that deals with the scientific study of the health of hair and scalp.
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Trichologists are hair and scalp specialists (one type of skin specialist) who diagnose the causes of hair fall, hair breakage, hair thinning, miniaturization of hairs ; diseases of the scalp and treat according to cause.
History
An interest left float in hair loss and hair care originated around 1860 in a London barbershop under a certain Professor Wheeler. Later in 1902, this interest in hair disorders became known as Trichology and the Institute of Trichologists was founded.
The Institute of Trichologists
The Institute of Trichologists at over 100 years old is the oldest professional association for trichologists in the world. Registered members of The Institute of Trichologists indicate this with the postnominal letters AIT, MIT or FIT after their names (designating, respectively, an Associate Member, Member or Fellow of the Institute).
The International Association of Trichologists
The International Association of Trichologists (IAT), a non-profit Californian corporation, offers a course developed at the University of Southern California in 1974, and trains most students from several countries. It offers special condensed courses for medical doctors. Clinical training is offered in Australia, the U.K., America, Brazil, Argentina, Kenya, India and Russia. The Board of Directors has representatives from America, Russia, India, Brazil, the U.K. and Australia. The course has been translated into Portuguese, Russian and Spanish.
An IAT International Conference is held annually. The conference in 2012 was held in Brazil, the conference in 2013 was in Argentina, the 2014 conference was in Australia and the 2015 conference was in Washington D.C. In 2016, Conferences were held in Chicago, USA and in Auckland, New Zealand. Conferences for 2017 are planned for Singapore and Brazil.
The I.A.T. offers a Hair Practitioner's Certificate Course aimed at practitioners who desire more knowledge about hair but do not want to become fully qualified trichologists. This is offered by home-study but also taught in America and Singapore. A Chinese version of this course is available.
Registered members of the IAT can use the letters "IAT" after their name. Members are controlled by a code of ethics.