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Traction
alopecia
Traction alopecia may look similar to trichotillomania, but it
is often the result of hair styles which involve pulling and securing
hair into shape such as braiding or corn rows. The over use of hair
stylers such as sponge hair rollers or curling irons may also promote
traction alopecia. Traction alopecia often shows as distinct patches
of hair loss in those areas where the hair and hair follicles have
been put under excessive strain. The hair loss may occur anywhere
on the scalp depending on the nature of the hair style or process
that is causing the traction alopecia.
Traction alopecia is a very common cause of temporary hair loss.
Typically, traction alopecia in the early stages involves affected
hair follicles being pushed into the telogen resting state along
with localized trauma to the hair follicles as a result of hair
fibers being forcibly pulled out.
As with trichotillomania, traction alopecia is generally a non-scarring,
non-inflammatory form of hair loss although long term use of hair
styles involving traction over 3 or more years may result in a mild
immune cell infiltrate and irreversible scarring damage to some
hair follicles. Any form of chronic traction alopecia will eventually
lead to fibrosis around hair follicles and total destruction of
some hair follicles. Once destroyed the hair follicles will not
regrow under any circumstances hence chronic traction alopecia can
be described as a scarring cicatricial alopecia.
Traction alopecia is reversible if diagnosed in the early stages.
An effective treatment is to simply avoid hair styling that puts
excessive strain on the hair. Even with removal of the cause of
traction alopecia it may take up to three months for the hair to
recover. Areas of scalp subjected to chronic traction alopecia may
never fully recover. Chronic traction alopecia may be treated by
hair transplants.
Traction
alopecia references
- Hwang
SM, Lee WS, Choi EH, Lee SH, Ahn SK. Nurse's cap alopecia. Int
J Dermatol. 1999 Mar;38(3):187-91.
- Trueb
RM. "Chignon alopecia": a distinctive type of nonmarginal
traction alopecia. Cutis. 1995 Mar;55(3):178-9.
- Bulengo-Ransby
SM, Bergfeld WF. Chemical and traumatic alopecia from thioglycolate
in a black woman: a case report with unusual clinical and histologic
findings. Cutis. 1992 Feb;49(2):99-103.
- Danielsen
L, Berger P. Torture sequelae located to the skin. Acta Derm
Venereol. 1981;61(1):43-6.
- Steck
WD. Telogen effluvium: a clinically useful concept, with traction
alopecia as an example. Cutis. 1978 Apr;21(4):543-8.
- Marino RV. Headband alopecia. Pediatrics.
1995 Dec;96(6):1174.
- Kanwar AJ, Kaur S, Basak P, Sharma R.
Traction alopecia in Sikh males. Arch Dermatol. 1989 Nov;125(11):1587.
- Scott DA. Disorders of the hair and scalp
in blacks. Dermatol Clin. 1988 Jul;6(3):387-95.
- Monk BE, Neill SM, du Vivier A. Fashion
causes traction alopecia. Practitioner. 1986 May;230(1415):401-2.
- Earles RM. Surgical correction of traumatic
alopecia marginalis or traction alopecia in black women. J Dermatol
Surg Oncol. 1986 Jan;12(1):78-82.
- Malhotra YK, Kanwar AJ. Tractional alopecia
among Libyan women. Arch Dermatol. 1980 Sep;116(9):987.
- Ely PH. Balance beam alopecia. Arch Dermatol.
1978 Jun;114(6):968.
- Singh G. Letter: Traction alopecia in
Sikh boys. Br J Dermatol. 1975 Feb;92(2):232-3.
- Renna FS, Freedberg IM. Traction alopecia
in nurses. Arch Dermatol. 1973 Nov;108(5):694-5.
- Rudolph RI, Klein AW, Decherd JW. Corn-row
alopecia. Arch Dermatol. 1973 Jul;108(1):134.
- Harman RR. Traction alopecia due to "hair
extension". Br J Dermatol. 1972 Jul;87(1):79-80.
- Aaronson CM. Etiologic factors in traction
alopecia. South Med J. 1969 Feb;62(2):185-6.
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