Traction Alopecia

Traction alopecia is caused by damage done to the hair follicle by continual pulling and tight tension for very long periods to the hair. This type of hair loss has been on the rise as people continue to damage there hair. It occurs in people who wear tight braids, especially dreadlocks that lead to pulling, tension and breaking of hair.

African-American women seem to be affected more and men who braid their hair or have dreadlocks. Traction alopecia occurs more commonly in teenagers and young adults more than it does in older people unless they also damage there hair in the same ways. This is a culture thing as well as a cosmetic choice. However, people do not realize that is damaging to hair as well as the hair follicles.

The only way to stop the damaging ring is to catch it early enough and stopping the damaging process. Hairstyles that put tension on the hair follicles have to change for the best results. African-American women are vulnerable to traction alopecia and should take their hairstyle or treatment methods and change them. Hair stylists specializing in braids and chemical processing should warn about traction alopecia and advise customers on the risks.

Chemical processing of your hair can cause traction alopecia that can be irreversible if prolonged damage has occurred. The early sign of hair loss means a discussion with your beautician or a doctor. The extreme heat from blow dryers is also a factor in traction alopecia. Heat being too intense and to close to hair follicles can damage them and you may find yourself losing hair without a cure.

If you find that the damage is irreversible and there is absolutely no cure known, transplants may be the only way to solve this problem. Before considering this type of hair replants, you need to know that you will not be able to damage this hair the way you have your real hair. The same situation will arise.

Many products suggest that conditioning the hair follicles and cleansing the scalp will revitalize damaged hair from traction alopecia. This is not always the case; hair loss sustained by constant abuse remains damaged for life. The early detection of this form of alopecia might be able to be corrected, but prolonged abuse without proper care can be irreversible.

Women should use minoxidil for at least one year before checking for results. The results are slow and can be discouraging if you are expecting quick results. Men are also supposed to wait at least a year before results can be determined. This drug does not always work on everybody but you can try it to see if the treatment works. Traction alopecia does not always need this type of help, but in some cases, it does help promote hair growth.

In the early stages of hair loss, you may also need to discontinue all forms of styling your hair. The hair follicles need to rejuvenate and grow hair as if you were starting out as a baby. With any kind of hair damage, you must determine how bad it is as well, how much of the head and hair was damaged by this process.

Once you have determined these facts a doctor can prescribe treatment as well as recommending alternatives. The best-prescribed treatment is to stop causing tension to the hair follicles now. The hair needs to grow out and remain loose in order to grow properly. Society does not warn about improper hair care, but is quick to provide some questionable remedies to the problem. Do not be fooled into thinking, as many are that your hair grows back after years of abuse. This is not going to happen. If you are lucky enough to learn early, you will save thousands of dollars by growing healthy hair.

If you choose to wear these tight hairstyles, you will want to undo the styles weekly in order to prevent traction alopecia from becoming a problem in the future. Because there is a need to fit in and look, stylish people will tend to avoid the details that contain warnings against such types of styles. You need to decide what is important to you, your hair for life or a hairstyle for a couple years.