Traction alopecia is a condition where you lose hair due to pulling or traction. The good news is that fortunately it is a type of hair loss that you CAN control, unlike other devastating hair loss types. With prevention, you can stop it from happening and with proper hair care, you can make sure it won’t be coming back again!
What can cause Traction Alopecia?
If you put your hair under constant tension or some sort of strain on a frequent basis, you increase your chances to have areas of thinning hair, usually behind the ears and around your temples. You may even notice that your part is wider than it used to be.
Some of the reasons that cause traction alopecia are:
-
Tight cornrows/braids/pigtails/ponytails.
-
Tight hairpieces and headgear (i.e. cycling helmets).
-
Dreadlocks
-
Barrettes or hair clips that are worn in the same position day after day and hold the hair tightly.
-
Wigs, hair weaves or extension braids (single) attached with tape, clips or glue.
-
Headbands that are worn every single day.
-
Trichotillomania – It is an emotional condition that leads to repeated pulling of the hair with the hands.
What happens in traction alopecia is that the hair is not just broken off. It is pulled out from the root due to the constant tension applied to some areas of the head. The follicles become inflamed and, over time, they become wasted away and eventually stop producing hair.
Chemicals and traction alopecia
There is also a kind of alopecia called Central Cicatricial Centrifugal Alopecia (CCCA), also known as Follicular Degeneration Syndrome or Comb Alopecia and is almost exclusively seen in African-American women. It is caused by the combination of too much tension on the hair and the use of harsh chemicals (i.e. bleaches, relaxers, and dyes). According to research conducted in 2008, women with relaxed hair have the highest prevalence of CCCA.
It starts at the crown, which is why it is sometimes confused with female pattern baldness and spreads to the areas surrounding your temples. The chemicals damage the follicle (keratin structure), leading to hair loss.
Warning Signs of Traction Alopecia
Your body has ways to warn you that something is wrong. For example, if after untying your hair you have a sense of relief, or your scalp feels somewhat sensitive to the touch after undoing a ponytail, it’s a sign that your hair is under too much tension.
The same goes when your scalp itches after you have put in a weave or had braids. Sometimes, the tightly secured hair gives you headaches that you need to take painkillers to relief. If you refuse to listen to these cries, you will soon notice that sections of your hair are sparse or actually missing. In some extreme cases, you may even notice little pimples (papules) or even blisters filled with pus (pustules) at the areas where the hair is under a lot of strain, showing you that the follicles have reached their limits.
Can it be reversed?
Depends. If you take action the moment you spot the warning signs and stop whatever habit is causing the hair to fall out, your hair will most likely be restored to its former good condition. But, if the follicles have been scarred over (extremely traumatized due to a long period of time of stress), don’t expect hair to grow back. At least, not by itself. In this case, the affected areas will look shiny. At this point, it’s best to speak to your dermatologist to determine whether you have permanent scarring and discuss surgical restoration (i.e. hair transplant).
How to treat Traction Alopecia
For any treatment to be effective, you need to catch the condition early enough, before it has caused permanent damage. In this case, something as simple as changing the hair care practices or hair styling that was causing the issue and learning how to properly take care of your hair will save the day.
At Margaret’s Salon, we use a variety of sophisticated treatments and products to restore your hair to its past glory. However, prevention is always key. So, make sure you keep your hair moisturized, especially if you use central heating or air conditioning or live in a dry climate – all of which dehydrate the hair and cause it to break.
Scalp massage also helps to encourage hair growth, as long as the follicles are not permanently damaged. In conjunction with it, you can also use products, such as castor oil, unrefined coconut oil, olive oil, and apple cider vinegar (organic- dilute 1/3 of it in 1 quart of water and rinse the hair).
Maintaining good scalp hygiene is also important. And, if you need to wear a weave or hair extensions (unmanageable, lacking in volume and thin hair do need some extra help to look at its best) it is critical to be done by a properly trained professional in hair care, who will also be able to identify any potential issues and nip them in the bud, so that you minimize damage.
For traction alopecia caused by the use of chemicals, and if stopping their use is not an option for you for any reason, trust a professional with any chemical treatment. At Margaret’s Salon, we have seen many problems caused by home relaxer kits. This is because, most of the times, women either use a stronger formula or leave the chemicals on longer than needed. If you can prevent a nasty condition, then why shouldn’t you?
What you CAN do:
-
Use fabric hair bands (wide) that are just stretchy enough to stay on the head and not too tight (you shouldn’t feel that your head is being squeezed).
-
Use hair slides (or even better a Flexi-8) and make sure you change their position often. The same applies to ponytails and parts. Their location should vary.
-
Opt for bigger braids. Normally, your fingers should get under the base of the braid and not feel any pulling when you rotate your head.
-
Invest in satin pillowcases that don’t cause breakage, unlike nylon and cotton ones.
-
Wash hair gel or hair spray out before you brush your hair to avoid damaging the shafts, which could lead to further hair loss.
