Haircut-induced alopecia

Alopecia areata caused by haircuts.

The causes of alopecia are many: allergic reactions, bacterial and fungal infections, parasitic diseases, inflammation of skin glands, depigmentation of the skin (vitiligo), zinc deficiency etc. But, in the context of grooming, we want to talk about alopecia caused by improper haircuts.

This article is a cautionary tale for owners of breeds such as: Spitz, Malamute, Chow Chow and Husky. In particular, we will single out the Spitz.

All of the above breeds are the owners of a thick undercoat, which in turn wraps the stiff pin hair. The character of the coat is connected with the original habitats of these animals - low temperatures and penetrating winds are not uncommon for those territories.

So let's get down to business.

Alopecia is a condition in which there is a loss of hair. The term "Alopecia X" is used to describe this condition because the exact causes are unknown. A genetic factor is the most common cause, but getting a haircut with a machine can trigger the condition. So how does alopecia areata occur? Hair matures and falls out of the hair follicles. Each hair has a bulb-like shape. If a hair is cut very short during active growth, the narrow part of the hair is pulled inside the hair follicle like a wound. The sweat and sebaceous glands continue to secrete secretion because the root of the hair is still inside the hair vagina and stimulates secretion. If a small section of hair remains, this secretion comes to the surface of the skin. If, however, the hair sheath is completely engorged, a fatty lump may form in the follicle, which is either rejected or remains in the capsule. The trimmed hair is not always able to grow back on its own, and even during the next hair growth period, this is difficult because the hair root is still thick and cannot pass through the narrow hair vagina. As a result, with each haircut, the number of these "clogged" follicles increases, preventing new full follicles from forming. New follicles mature, but they are smaller and the hair that forms in them becomes thinner and weaker.

That's taken care of. But what about, "It's summer! Our bear is very hot, let's help him and remove this coat"?

Thermoregulation.

Short-haired dogs have a serious problem with impaired thermoregulation.This is due to the lack of protection of long-haired pets from direct sunlight, rain and drafts.With the loss of their fur, they are rendered helpless against natural phenomena. The skin is most at risk - numerous sunburns occur, which can lead to the development of dangerous tumors. In addition, exposure to air conditioning or drafts can cause frequent colds and pneumonia. The appearance of the animal also changes, as the skin, deprived of protection in the form of wool, takes over the function of wool cover and acquires a dark gray or black color.

Unfortunately, the realities are such that there are a lot of woeful masters and woeful salons in Chisinau. Earnings at such is above all.And, of course, none of them will not explain to the owner why short haircuts are strictly forbidden.

To summarize, we, as a salon that cares first and foremost about the health of your pets - categorically against haircuts Spitz "under the bear" and certainly even shorter.