Traction alopecia
 |
This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (March 2009) |
| Traction alopecia | |
|---|---|
| Classification and external resources | |
 Traction alopecia in a Yorkshire terrier caused by hair barrette |
|
| ICD-10 | L65.8 (ILDS L65.852) |
| DiseasesDB | 32586 |
| eMedicine | derm/895 |
Traction alopecia is a form of alopecia, or gradual hair loss, caused primarily by pulling force being applied to the hair.[1]:761[2]:645 This commonly results from the sufferer frequently wearing his/her hair in a particularly tight ponytail, pigtails, or braids. It is also seen occasionally in long-haired toy dogs whose owners use barrettes to keep hair out of the dogs' faces.
Traction alopecia is a substantial risk in hair weaves, which can be worn either to conceal hair loss, or purely for cosmetic purposes. The former involves creating a braid around the head below the existing hairline, to which an extended-wear hairpiece, or wig, is attached. Since the hair of the braid is still growing, it requires frequent maintenance, which involves the hairpiece being removed, the natural hair braided again, and the piece snugly reattached. The tight braiding and snug hairpiece cause tension on the hair that is already at risk for falling out. Traction Alopecia is one of the most common causes of hair loss in African American women. Although the aforementioned style is one of the culprits, hairstyles such as dreadlocks and single (extension) braids can also have the same effect.[3] Men and women who have suffered from Traction Alopecia have found that the hair loss occurs most at the hair line - primarily around the temples and the sides of their heads.[4]
[edit] See also
- Croydon facelift - hairstyle that can cause this
- Cicatricial alopecia
- List of cutaneous conditions
[edit] References
- ^ James, William; Berger, Timothy; Elston, Dirk (2005). Andrews' Diseases of the Skin: Clinical Dermatology. (10th ed.). Saunders. ISBN 0721629210.
- ^ Freedberg, et al. (2003). Fitzpatrick's Dermatology in General Medicine. (6th ed.). McGraw-Hill. ISBN 0071380760.
- ^ "Traction Alopecia. Natural Hair Restoration for African Americans". http://www.besthairrestorationproducts.com/traction-alopecia-cause-of-hair-loss-in-african-american-women.
- ^ "Common Causes of Hair Loss in African American Women". http://www.besthairrestorationproducts.com/causes-of-hair-loss-in-black-women.
| This Condition of the skin appendages article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
