Traction alopecia is a form of progressive hair loss or thinning of the hair that is a result of constant pulling and or plucking of hair over time. It\’s usually as the result of particular types of hairstyling, tweezing, or waxing. Over plucked eyebrows that fail to regrow are also caused by Traction Alopecia.

Hairstyles that encourage the development of traction alopecia include dreadlocks, braids, cornrows, weaves, clip on hair pieces, tight turbans and high, tight ponytails or pigtails.

Shedding a certain amount of hairs each day is normal. Most people usually lose between 20 to 50 hairs a day (although 100 is often stated to be the normal amount of daily hairs she,that has been found to be an overestimation).

These hairs are in the telogen phase of the hair growth cycle – i.e. they have reached the end of their growth cycle and rest cycle, usually at the end of five to six years on your head. All hairs go through three phases of growth – anagen, catagen and telogen. Even hairs of those suffering from alopecia cycle through these phases. The difference is that in those suffering from alopecia, new hairs don\’t replace the shed hairs, resulting in visible hair loss.

With traction alopecia, there is a simple cause for the hair loss. What we know as a human hair can be split into two parts – the follicle is the skin organ that produces the hair and lies in the dermis layer of the skin. The hair shaft is the visible hair that protrudes from the skin and can be pulled out. When too much pressure is put on the hair over time it can speed up the hair shedding process, resulting in the loss of hairs already in the telogen phase. It can also have a negative effect on the hair follicles themselves, resulting in traumatised follicles that do not produce hairs to replace those telogen hairs that have been shed.

Is traction alopecia reversible?

Unlike some other forms of alopecia, traction alopecia is usually reversible, as long as the pulling and tugging that has caused it is stopped and hair is allowed to grow naturally. Repeatedly subjecting the same hair follicles to pulling may result in permanent hair loss in the affected area. It can take time for the hair to recover from the damage of over-pulling. Often, it can take up to six months before an improvement can be seen and felt by the sufferer.

Traction alopecia in black women

Traction alopecia is common among black women, because of their hairstyle choices. It can often be mistaken for other types of hair loss, so assessment by a professional is often necessary to see what the problem is.

Traction alopecia often starts with a receding of the front hairline and often continues with a general thinning of the hair all over the head.

A common form is when the loss occurs around the scalp edges. This type of hair loss is called banded traction alopecia.

Another type of traction alopecia is on where hair comes out in clumps, as the result of sleeping in rollers or having braids or tight weaves. This sort of traction leads to a general thinning of the hair as the traction alopecia not only occurs around the edges of the scalp but all over. Children too can be affected.

The good news is that the condition is not genetic and can be reversed if diagnosed and treated in time. Find out more about traction alopecia causes and symptoms

The good news is that the condition is not genetic and can be reversed if diagnosed and treated in time. Find out more about traction alopecia causes and symptoms at http://www.tractionalopeciatreatments.com/causes-and-symptoms

Author Bio: The good news is that the condition is not genetic and can be reversed if diagnosed and treated in time. Find out more about traction alopecia causes and symptoms

Category: Womens Interest
Keywords: traction alopecia, what is traction alopecia, Is traction alopecia reversible