Most commonly reported Work Activities

• Assisting and Caring for Others Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
• Getting Information Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
• Documenting/Recording Information Entering, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
• Making Decisions and Solving Problems Analysing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
• Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
• Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
• Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.
• Interacting With Computers Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
• Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events Identifying information by categorising, estimating, recognising differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
• Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.

The Work

Using objective scientific techniques the trichologist studies a patient's hair and scalp for disorders. These can include damaged or thinning hair and skin infections and diseases.

The trichologist (Hair & Scalp specialist) will discuss hair care, medical history, diet and medications. A blood test may be requested.  

After diagnosis treatment will be prescribed. This may be in the form of drugs, massage, special shampoos, lotions, or, in some case, electrical treatment therapies.  
 
Sometimes one visit will be enough, or a client may have to return on a regular basis for a series of consultations.

Most commonly reported Work Tasks

• Conduct complete skin examinations.
• Diagnose and treat pigmented lesions such as common acquired nevi, congenital nevi, dysplastic nevi, Spits nevi, blue nevi, or melanoma.
• Perform incisional biopsies to diagnose melanoma.
• Perform skin surgery to improve appearance, make early diagnoses, or control diseases such as skin cancer.
• Counsel patients on topics such as the need for annual dermatologic screenings, sun protection, skin cancer awareness, or skin and lymph node self-examinations.
• Diagnose and treat skin conditions such as acne, dandruff, athlete's foot, moles, psoriasis, or skin cancer.
• Record patients' health histories.
• Recommend diagnostic tests based on patients' histories and physical examination findings.
• Prescribe hormonal agents or topical treatments such as contraceptives, spironolactone, antiandrogens, oral corticosteroids, retinoids, bensoyl peroxide, or antibiotics.
• Conduct or order diagnostic tests such as chest radiographs (x-rays), microbiologic tests, or endocrinologic tests.

This occupation is typically suited for people with the following Career Interests:

Enterprising

Enterprising people like situations that involve using resources for personal or corporate economic gain. Such people may have an opportunistic frame of mind, and are drawn to commerce, trade and making deals. Some pursue sales and marketing occupations. Many will eventually end up owning their own business, or in management roles in larger organisations. They tend to be very goal-oriented and work best when focused on a target. Some have an entrepreneurial inclination.

Social

The Social person's interests focus on interacting with the people in their environment. In all cases, the Social person enjoys the personal contact with other people in preference to the impersonal dealings with things, data and ideas found in other groups.

Many will seek out positions where there is direct contact with the public in some advisory role, whether a receptionist or a counsellor. Social people are motivated by an interest in different types of people and like diversity in their work environments. Many are drawn towards careers in the caring professions and social welfare area, whilst others prefer teaching and other 'informing' roles.

Realist

Realists are usually interested in 'things' - such as buildings, mechanics, equipment, tools, electronics etc. Their primary focus is dealing with these - as in building, fixing, operating or designing them. Involvement in these areas leads to high manual skills, or a fine aptitude for practical design - as found in the various forms of engineering.

Realists like to find practical solutions to problems using tools, technology and skilled work. Realists usually prefer to be active in their work environment, often do most of their work alone, and enjoy taking decisive action with a minimum amount of discussion and paperwork.

There are varied pathways into this carer, with similarities to dermatology. There are depdicated courses in the Institute of Trichology in the UK is a pathway to this career.

Training & Development Pathways

Training can also help you progress and there are both undergraduate and postgraduate courses in business and management which can support you in your career.

FET Centre Traineeship: Healthcare, Management in centres around Ireland NFQ Level 5-6 Search FET Courses

FET PLC Courses: Beauty Therapy, Pre-University Science with Animal Anatomy and Physiology, Applied science, Healthcare, Nursing, Biomedical & Pharmaceutical Science at NFQ Levels 5-6 Search FET PLC Courses

Apprenticeship: Sales, Advanced Healthcare Apprenticeships NFQ level 6 Search Apprenticeships

Higher Education CAO Entry: Medicine, Nursing, Biosciences, Applied Biosciences NFQ Levels 6-8 Search CAO courses

Postgraduate Study Options Nursing - Dermatology Nursing, Dermatology, Clinical Dermatology NFQ level 9

Last Updated: April, 2023

Salary Range (thousands per year)* €29k - €85k

Qualified Trichologists or Dermatologists in private practice clinics may earn towards the upper most of the scale. Salaries vary depending on employer, location, experience, and duties.

Data Source(s):
Indeed/ Salaryexplorer/ Salaryexpert

Last Updated: July, 2024

* The lower figures typically reflect starting salaries. Higher salaries are awarded to those with greater experience and responsibility. Positions in Dublin sometimes command higher salaries.

View Salary information from Indeed.ie
Note: data not aways available

This information has been derived from the Solas National Skills Bulletin (2023).

Employment growth was strong for this occupation, particularly between 2021 and 2022. Census data shows that employment grew across all roles in this group between 2016 and 2022, with the strongest growth for pharmaceutical technicans.

The number of online job adverts for pharmaceutical technicians grew strongly in 2022 (+14%); skills in demand included, among others pharmaceutical knowledge, the ability to provide customer service & advice, and business skills, such as product sales.

A small number of employment permits were issued in 2022 for cardiac physiologists and paramedics. The available data sources do not signal any issues in relation to supply and demand for health associate professional occupations; however, if employment was to continue to increase, recruitment issues may emerge.

• Institute of Trichologists

  • 24 Langroyd Road, London SW17 7PL, UK
  • +44 (0) 845 604 4657
  • [email protected]
  • Click Here

• Irish Hairdresser's Federation

  • Seskin South, Ballyragget, Co. Kilkenny
  • (056) 8833808
  • [email protected]
  • Click Here