Traction alopecia is a condition where damaged hair follicles cannot grow hair. The follicles enter a dormant state and the hair they had been growing falls out over time, leaving bald patches on the exposed scalp. In minor cases this leads to patch balding in only the worst affected areas.
More developed cases can result in complete, or near-complete, hair loss. When this happens, it is important to identify the cause and work to remove it. When the scalp has time to repair the damage to hair follicles, they will often begin to grow hair again. The length of time the healing process takes will of course vary depending on the extent of the damage at the time the stressors are removed, but the body is a remarkable healing machine and the hair will eventually grow back.
Causes of Traction Alopecia
Traction alopecia has a number of causes. One major factor is damage to the hair follicles, often caused by continued pulling on hair strands. Wearing hair extensions exacerbates the problem because not only are the extensions themselves constantly pulling on the hair root but the method of attaching the extensions adds pressure too.
In addition to damaged hair follicles through pulling, stress on the scalp can lead to hair loss. Scalp stress comes about through constant rubbing, which occurs most often when tight hats are worn on a regular basis. Hard hats, cycle helmets and crash helmets are all scalp stressors because their close fit causes rubbing that eventually leads to inflammation.
All hair follicles go through a growth cycle that involves a three-month telogen or rest phase. After the telogen phase is over, hair growth resumes. Damaged hair follicles are unable to exit the telogen phrase and instead end up going into dormancy. This is the point when traction alopecia becomes visible, as dormant hair follicles cause visible bald patches.
Stress Hair Loss
When the body is stressed, this can cause hair follicles to enter the telogen phase of the growth cycle. When traction alopecia is present, the hair follicles are deformed and cannot leave the rest phase. As a result, stress hair loss is a significant problem.
Some estimates put the number of follicles that enter the rest phase at up to 70 percent of active hair cells; meaning the results could be highly visible. Hair falls out of the scalp after the follicles have been in the rest phase for three months, but in the majority of cases this is perfectly natural.
You will notice the occasional hair falling out here and there but each hair is at a different stage in the growth cycle so you should retain a healthy head of hair despite a few strands falling out here and there. When you have damaged hair follicles that cannot begin hair growth again, bald patches start to appear. This in turn can lead to more stress, and the cycle repeats itself.
How to Avoid the Dangers
The simplest method of avoiding hair loss is to recognise the causes of traction alopecia and avoid them. Style your hair in a way that allows it to hang loosely. Avoid wearing a tight-fitting hat as often as possible, so you do not have something rubbing against the scalp all the time. Similarly, wash your hair with shampoos and conditioners that do not inflame the scalp or cause itching, as this will stop you scratching. Scratching is a major cause of damage to hair follicles.
If you must wear hair extensions, do so only on occasion and allow your hair a good two to three months recovery time after wearing them. When you tie your hair back in a ponytail, make sure it is a loose ponytail so the pressure on the crown is not as high. Avoid tight braiding, especially when it is close to the hairline for stitching hair extensions into.
By recognising the causes of traction alopecia and adjusting your hair care regime to avoid them, you have a far greater chance of preventing hair loss. Where hair loss does occur, knowing the causes is an important first step in the recovery process. Recovering from hair loss can take months or even a couple of years but when your scalp is given the time to heal without new stressors being introduced, you will see the hair grow back naturally. The recovery time can however be shortened by using formulations that are effective in stimulating hair growth.
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