Information on Traction Alopecia

Traction alopecia is caused by chronic traction (pulling)temporary hair loss. Typically, traction alopecia in the
on the hair follicle. Traction alopecia mostly occurs inearly stages involves affected hair follicles being
African-American women and men who braid theirpushed into the telogen resting state along with
hair too tightly. It is also common in other ethnic groupslocalized trauma to the hair follicles as a result of hair
known for traditional hair styles that involve pulling thefibers being forcibly pulled out.
hair.Traction alopecia is reversible if diagnosed in the early
There is also seen a pronounced traction alopecia instages. Permanent hair loss can occur too slowly for
the beard area of this Sikh man. The Sikh men do notimmediate detection. Hair loss is often occurs in the
cut scalp or beard hair. The beard hairs are pulledfront, and hair line but is also subject to the immediate
straight and then twisted and tightly knotted. Dailyadjacent area to where the hair is being pulled and
knotting often results in this form of traction alopecia.damaged.
Men who attach hairpieces to their existing hair alsoAn effective treatment is to simply avoid hair styling
suffer from this type of hair loss. The traction alopeciathat puts excessive strain on the hair. Even with
in such cases can also lead to permanent hair loss ifremoval of the cause of traction alopecia it may take
the hairpiece is attached in the same location over aup to three months for the hair to recover. Areas of
long period of time.scalp subjected to chronic traction alopecia may never
If we put the examples from ethnic groups aside,fully recover.
traction alopecia occurs most often in pre-teenagers,Traction alopecia is generally a non-scarring,
teenagers, young adults then it does in older men andnon-inflammatory form of hair loss although long term
women.use of hair styles involving traction over 3 or more
It is a very unfortunate state that hair styles andyears may result in a mild immune cell infiltrate and
fashions and hair styling methods are causing baldnessirreversible scarring damage to some hair follicles. Any
and hair loss among today's younger generations. Theform of chronic traction alopecia will eventually lead to
hair loss in all such cases is mostly due to Tractionfibrosis around hair follicles and total destruction of
alopecia. The hair loss is caused by long term hairsome hair follicles. Once destroyed the hair follicles will
pulling and breakage due to very tight hair braiding, hairnot re-grow under any circumstances hence chronic
weaves and cornrows.traction alopecia can be described as a scarring
The over use of hair style aids such as sponge haircicatricial alopecia.
rollers or curling irons may also promote tractionPermanent traction alopecia does not respond to
alopecia. Traction alopecia often shows as distinctmedical treatment such as minoxidil or finasteride due
patches of hair loss in those areas where the hair andto non-genetic nature of hair loss. The only way one
hair follicles have been put under excessive strain. Thecan treat traction alopecia is with hair transplants.
hair loss may occur anywhere on the scalp dependingFollicular unit hair grafting has been identified as the
on the nature of the hair style or process that isonly practical solution to treating traction alopecia.
causing the traction alopecia. Prolonged tractionNumber of patients with traction alopecia coming to
alopecia can lead to cicatrization of the new hair folliclehair transplant clinics is generally increasing and the
and permanent hair loss.treatment is providing them good response.
Traction alopecia is a very common cause of