Traumatic alopecia

Traumatic alopecia
Hair loss caused by injury to the scalp. Traumatic alopecia is usually caused by grooming methods that attempt to straighten the natural kinkiness of hair in order to make the hair more manageable. It is a result of stress traction injury from tight rollers and braiding as well as overheating the hair shafts. Vigorous combing and chemical bleaches and styling products can additionally irritate the scalp to cause further hair loss. Traumatic alopecia commonly occurs on both sides of the scalp and the broken-off hairs are frequently visible. Traumatic alopecia is treated by discontinuing the styling practices causing the hair and scalp injury. Partial or complete regrowth of hair can follow, but permanent loss of hair can occur when the roots of the hairs are severely damaged. To minimize risk of injury to scalp, if a person decides to continue or resume styling, it is best to use looser and larger wrapping and braids to reduce tension on the scalp and hair. Chemicals should only be applied to the hair and not the scalp directly. The hair should be unbraided at least every two weeks. Traumatic alopecia in the United States is a common form of hair loss in African-American women.

* * *

a type of telogen effluvium caused by injury to the hair follicles, such as by rubbing, traction, or a chemical agent, and confined to the areas thus traumatized.

Medical dictionary. 2011.

Игры ⚽ Нужно сделать НИР?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Alopecia areata — Classification and external resources Alopecia areata. ICD 10 L63 …   Wikipedia

  • Alopecia — This article is about the medical condition. For the 2008 album by Why?, see Alopecia (album). Alopecia Classification and external resources Alopecia in a 33 year old man. ICD 10 …   Wikipedia

  • Alopecia, traumatic — Hair loss caused by injury to the scalp. Traumatic alopecia is usually caused by grooming methods that attempt to straighten the natural kinkiness of hair in order to make the hair more manageable. It is a result of stress traction injury from… …   Medical dictionary

  • Alopecia mucinosa — Classification and external resources ICD 10 L65.2 (ILDS L65.200) Alopecia mucinosa (also known as Follicular mucinosis, Mucinosis follicularis, [1], Pinkus’ follicular mucinosis, [1] a …   Wikipedia

  • Alopecia — Baldness. There are many types of alopecia, each with a different cause. Alopecia may be localized to the front and top of the head as in common male pattern baldness. It may be patchy as in a condition called alopecia areata. Or it can involve… …   Medical dictionary

  • chemical alopecia — traumatic alopecia caused by a chemical applied to the hair or scalp, such as a hair relaxer product, usually with scarring of the scalp …   Medical dictionary

  • pressure alopecia — traumatic alopecia due to persistent pressure on the scalp, such as in babies lying on their backs, adults having prolonged surgical procedures, or ill persons having prolonged bed rest …   Medical dictionary

  • traction alopecia — traumatic alopecia due to continuous or prolonged traction on the hair, such as in certain hairstyles or in the habit of compulsively twisting one s own hair …   Medical dictionary

  • traumatic marginal alopecia — traction alopecia occurring along the scalp margin …   Medical dictionary

  • Androgenic alopecia — Classification and external resources Androgenic alopecia in a male ICD 10 L64 …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”