Traction Alopecia Causes & Treatment Options

Deutsch | English l Italiano | Francais | Romana

Home
Hair Loss
Men
Male Hair Loss Frontal Hair Loss Crown Hair Loss Dihydrotestosterone Norwood Hair Loss Chart How Hair is Lost Hair Loss & Self Esteem Hair Loss Scams
Women
Female Hair Loss Stress & Hair Loss Sudden Hair Loss Thyroid Hair Loss Hair Diseases Traction Alopecia Trichotillomania Hair Growth Cycle Hair Loss Articles
Hair Loss Treatments
Dutasteride Finasteride Minoxidil for Men Minoxidil for Women Laser Hair Restoration Hair Vitamins Saw Palmetto Hair Loss Scams Other Treatments
Hair Transplants
Hair Transplantation Hair Transplant Diagram Hair Graft Types Frontal Hair Transplants Crown Hair Transplants Follicular Unit Extraction HT Photo Gallery Eyebrow Hair Transplant Facial Hair Transplant Flap Surgery Scalp Reduction Hair Transplant Articles
Hair Replacement
Hair Pieces for Men Wigs for Women Hair Weaving
Scams
Phony Claims Scam Tactics Fake Science PT Barnum Investigate
Photos

Traction Alopecia:
Causes & Treatment Options

As hair styles and fashions change with the times and public sentiment, a few hair styling methods are causing baldness and hair loss among today's younger and older generations. Traction alopecia is hair loss that is caused by long term hair pulling and breakage due to very tight hair braiding, hair weaves and cornrows.

Harsh chemical relaxers can add to the hair follicle damage and hair loss can be permanent if not treated immediately. Traction Alopecia can also occur due to overprocessing of the hair. Chemical treatment of hair with dyes, bleaches, or straighteners disrupts the keratin structure in a manner that reduces its tensile strength. (1) The hair follicles can become fragile and heavy fall out can occur with brushing or combing. Using extreme heat to fashion hair can also permanently damage the hair follicle.

If the cause is not immediately alleviated, scarring can occur as well as permanent hair loss, leaving the victim with a less then desirable appearance they'll be forced to deal with for their rest of their lives.

Traction alopecia mostly occurs in African-American women and men who braid their hair too tightly. It is also common in other ethnic groups known for traditional hair styles that involve pulling the hair. Unfortunately, traction alopecia occurs most often to pre-teenagers, teenagers, young adults then it does in older men and women.

If detected early, traction alopecia is reversible if diagnosed early. However, permanent hair loss can occur too slowly for immediate detection. Hair loss is often occurs in the front, but is also subject to the immediate adjacent area to where the hair is being pulled and damaged.

The sad truth of the matter is that permanent traction alopecia does not respond to medical treatment such as minoxidil or finasteride since by it's nature, the hair loss is different then genetic hair loss. The only way one can treat traction alopecia is with hair transplants. Follicular unit hair grafting have been identified as the only practical solution to treating traction alopecia. Hair transplant clinics are reportedly seeing a rise in the number of patients with traction alopecia and say the results can be good to excellent

Dermatologist Valerie D. Callender, M.D., cautions that traction alopecia hair transplant patients should be firmly convinced to change their hair styling methods before undergoing hair transplant surgery.

"If, after hair transplantation is performed, patients with traction alopecia return to tight hair braiding or those with scarring alopecia begin again to use chemical relaxers or extreme heat for styling, they will jeopardize survival of the transplanted hairs and cause additional loss of non-transplanted hairs as well. Then, all the time and money spent on surgery was in vain. On the other hand, the surgical prognosis is generally good to excellent for patients who are motivated to change their grooming practices," Dr. Callender said.

Related:

Sources:
1. . Traction Alopecia, Emedicine.com, Basil M Hantash, MD, PhD, Robert A Schwartz, MD, MPH, Updated February 2005
2. Alopecia Options for Black Women, Dermatology Times, Cheryl Guttman, May 1, 2003
3. Traction Alopecia: Causes & Treatment Options