Scarring Alopecia Management and Referral Practices in African-American Cosmetologists.

Background: Cosmetologists and hair stylists are often the first and most frequented professionals evaluating patients with alopecia. This makes them a strong ally for dermatologists. Our study aimed to assess the knowledge and practices of African-American cosmetologists regarding hair loss. The study focused on their confidence levels in identifying scarring alopecia conditions in clients, general knowledge of hair loss causes and risk factors, and the frequency of client referrals to dermatologists.

Methods: A survey was distributed among African-American cosmetologists, consisting of questions related to their confidence in recognizing scarring alopecia conditions, their knowledge of hair loss causes and risk factors, and their referral practices for clients experiencing hair loss. The survey was distributed electronically, and responses were collected anonymously. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze data.

Results: A total of 19 African-American cosmetologists participated in the survey. A majority of cosmetologist had never heard of lichen planopilaris (LPP) and central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia (CCCA) (78.9% and 57.9%, respectively) The majority of cosmetologists reported avoiding or limiting tight braids/locs (100%), tight ponytails/buns (100%), tight hair weaves (89.5%, n=17). 94.7% (n=18) referred clients to a dermatologist for hair loss in the past year.

Conclusion: The findings revealed varying levels of confidence among cosmetologists in identifying different types of scarring alopecia conditions. The results highlighted gaps in cosmetologists' knowledge of hair loss risk factors. The results suggest that there is a need for increased education and awareness among African-American cosmetologists regarding hair loss and scarring alopecia. Addressing these knowledge gaps and improving the confidence levels of cosmetologists in recognizing hair loss can have a positive impact on client care and well-being. Collaboration and communication between cosmetologists and dermatologists are crucial in providing comprehensive support for clients experiencing hair loss.