Traction Alopecia - How YOU Can Stop It


Traction alopecia.. its name - quite literally - means hair loss due to traction (or pulling).

And whilst you may associate the word 'alopecia' with uncontrollable, devastating hair loss, the good news is that THIS type of hair loss is entirely within your control.

You can not only stop it from happening, you can prevent its ever returning, too!

What are the Causes of Traction Alopecia?

Traction alopecia is a type of hair loss that happens over time.

It's caused by putting the hair under constant strain or tension and is usually caused by one or more of the following...

  • Very tight ponytails or pigtails
  • Tight braids or cornrows
  • Dreadlocks
  • Extension (single) braids
  • Hair weaves or wigs attached with glue, clips or tape
  • Certain hair clips, slides or barrettes that hold the hair tightly and are worn in the same position every day
  • Headbands - even fabric ones - worn day after day
  • Tight hairpieces
  • Tight headgear like cycling helmets that are worn frequently or for long stretches of time and tend to rub or pull repeatedly on the same area of hair
  • Repeated use of hair rollers
  • Repeated pulling of the hair with the hands (this is an emotional condition called trichotillomania)

If you use or do any of the above, then you may find that the constant tension they cause has led to areas of thinning hair - usually around the temples or behind your ears.

Alternatively, you might notice that the part in your hair looks wider than it used to.

If so, then it's quite likely that you're suffering from traction alopecia.

There's more to this condition than hair simply breaking off.

Instead, the constant tension in the affected area either pulls out the hairs' roots completely, or causes the follicles to become inflamed.

As time goes by, the damage to the follicles causes them to become atrophied (wasted away)... and if you don't put a stop to the cause of the problem, they will reach the point where they no longer produce hair at all.

Reference: DermHairClinic - Traction Alopecia

Photos of Hair Loss Caused by Traction Alopecia

These photographs were kindly shared with us by a visitor to this site. 

Please click the images to enlarge

Photos of traction alopecia

Are YOU a Likely Candidate for Traction Alopecia?

Anyone can be affected by traction alopecia - young or old, male or female.

It's more common within certain groups of the population, because they are more likely to use some of the hairstyling techniques listed above.

For example, African American women and girls are more likely to notice the problem due to braids and weaves.

Ballerinas - who tend to wear their hair pulled into very tight ponytails - sometimes suffer from traction alopecia around the hairline as a result.

In a nutshell - if you have a habit of doing something on a frequent basis that puts your hair under some sort of strain, then you are a candidate for traction alopecia.

Read on to discover the many ways you can prevent it from happening, or stop further damage if you've already noticed a problem.

Traction Alopecia Symptoms

Have you ever undone a ponytail and found your scalp feels sensitive to the touch afterwards?

Does untying your hair feel like a relief?

Does your scalp itch after you've had braids or a weave put in?

Have you ever taken painkillers because your hair is secured so tightly it's given you a headache?

All of these are warning signs that your hair is under way too much tension. Your body is trying to tell you something... and you need to listen!

If not, the next thing you'll notice is that sections of your hair are actually missing, or worryingly sparse.

You can often see this more clearly around the hairline or behind the ears, but it can often happen around the crown, too. It really depends on what was causing the tension in the first place.

Some people even notice pustules (blisters filled with pus) or papules (little pimples) where the hair is under a lot of tension.

This is because of the irritation being caused to the scalp and is a clear indicator that the follicles just can't cope with the strain.

Can Traction Alopecia be Reversed?

Yes and no.

If you spot the warning signs of traction alopecia early enough and you put a stop to whatever's causing it, then your hair will stop falling out and should - with time, patience and loving care - be completely restored to its former glory.

But if the hair follicles have been so badly traumatized for such a long period of time that they have scarred over, then the hair will not grow back by itself.

Areas of the scalp where this is the case will likely look shiny.

In cases like this, you'll need to think about some sort of surgical restoration - speak to your dermatologist to establish whether or not your traction alopecia has caused permanent scarring and to discuss the surgical options available to you.

Traction alopecia can even occur in the eyelashes!

Bauman Medical Group describes how removing false eyelash extensions (without first dissolving the glue) can pull out the lash follicles.

In fact, the weight of the extensions alone can cause follicular damage - and the problem is even more likely to occur if the lashes were already thin (the chief reason for applying the extensions in the first place!).

The moral of the story?

Thin eyelashes are preferable to none at all... meaning that eyelash extensions are not the best solution for thin lashes! Instead, look for a good, volumizing mascara to enhance what you already have.

Traction Alopecia Treatment

As discussed above, 'treatment' for traction alopecia is only effective before you've arrived at the stage of permanent damage.

But the good news is that 'treatment' - if you've caught the condition early enough - can be as simple as changing whatever hair styling and hair care practices you were using and really learning to CARE for this precious asset... your hair!

Wearing a weave

One of the biggest ironies about traction alopecia is that it's the most common cause of hair loss in African American women due to the application of weaves and hairpieces... yet those weaves and hairpieces are often used in the first place to enhance hair that may seem thin, or lacking in volume.

But - as writer Oliver Herford once said - 'A hair in the head is worth two in the brush'... and it may come down to a simple choice between learning to make the most of your natural hair... or risking having very little natural hair at all.

Weaves are generally applied through braiding, fusion, netting or bonding - and the sad fact is that any or all of these methods can lead to traction alopecia if used extensively, over long periods of time.

To minimize the risk of traction alopecia, or to try to prevent further damage and encourage regrowth, have your weave fitted by a state licensed professional.

Yes, it may be more expensive, but you - and your hair - are worth it! Someone properly trained in hair care will keep damage to a minimum and will be able to spot potential problems and nip them in the bud.

The same goes for hair extensions, which can also cause hair loss problems in the lower half of the scalp.

Have them fitted by a trained professional - don't try to fit them yourself or have a friend do them for you.

Speak to your hairdresser about taking care of your scalp - some women find it difficult to maintain good scalp hygiene because the weave or extensions make it awkward... unfortunately, though, this can make the problem of traction alopecia worse.

When chemicals are the culprits

There's a kind of alopecia called CCCA (central cicatricial centrifugal alopecia), also known as hot comb alopecia, or follicular degeneration syndrome.

It's almost exclusively seen in African American women and it's often confused with female pattern baldness, because it starts at the crown and spreads to the surrounding areas.

The cause?

A mixture of too much stress (traction) on the hair along with the use of harsh chemicals like dyes, relaxers and bleaches. The chemicals actually damage the keratin structure of the follicle itself, causing hair LOSS, not just hair damage.

In fact, research conducted in 2008 showed that the highest prevalence of traction alopecia was in women with relaxed hair.

If you suspect this is a condition that's affecting you, speak to your dermatologist.

In addition to removing the cause of the traction and stopping the use of chemicals in your hair, you may be tested for any bacterial or viral infection and possibly be prescribed topical steroids, antibiotics or topical minoxidil to encourage regrowth.

NOTE: If you must use a relaxer on your hair, have it done professionally.

Specialists are seeing more and more problems caused by home relaxer kits, because it's tempting to leave the chemicals on longer than necessary, or accidentally use a stronger formula than you really need.


Medscape - Scarring Alopecia

Braiding, ponytails, pigtails and locs

The 2008 research into the prevalence of traction alopecia in African girls and women showed that braiding caused more problems than chemicals (although the two together were worse still).

Constant, tight braiding - or other styles like ponytails that place hair under chronic tension - can affect any ethnic group. So it's very important to take a new approach to styling hair that doesn't rely on placing the hair under extreme tension.

The ideal solution, of course, is to allow the hair to be completely natural, without using any kind of clips, slides or ties.

The reality, though, is that this just isn't possible for most of us.

Our hair may either be unmanageable and wild looking when allowed to 'do its own thing' - or, like us, you may live in a climate where it's simply too hot to have your hair hanging around your face all day.

The answer is that you can continue to secure back your hair, but you MUST change the way you do it from one week to the next.

Traction alopecia is usually the result of CONTINUALLY putting the hair under EXACTLY the same tension in the same place, day after day.

How to Avoid Traction Alopecia (and still have beautiful hair!)

Hold back the hair with a wide, fabric hair band.
Make sure it's not too tight - some of the really elasticated ones can be damaging in themselves.

The key is to find one just stretchy enough to stay on, but gentle enough not to feel as if it's squeezing your head!

Use hair slides - 
either one big one at the back or smaller ones at the sides.

Change the position of the slides as often as you can. You can also try using a Flexi-8 - we find it much less 'aggressive' than regular hair slides.

Braid hair loosely -
you should be able to get your finger under the base of the braid.

Opt for bigger braids, rather than creating lots of little ones (which put the hair under too much tension).

After braiding or tying your hair in any way, slowly rotate your head. Do you feel any tugging/pulling anywhere? If so, loosen your hair.

Change the location of your ponytail often 
Wear it high, low, on one side, then the other.

Don't wear a ponytail at all if your hair isn't really long enough to need one... otherwise you'll probably be pulling your too-short hair really hard in order to secure it.

 Click here for tips on safely securing the hair during exercise.

Avoid using clipped in ponytails -
the weight of them can - quite literally - tear out your hair.

Always use fabric covered hair bands -
avoid bare rubber bands like the plague!

And remove bands, clips and ponytail holders from the hair at night - this is when you may be putting your hair under tension without even realizing it.

Invest in silk or satin pillowcases. 
They cause less friction on your hair than cotton or nylon ones - and, as an added bonus, they're believed to help reduce wrinkles too! 
Find out more...

Choose a satin wig cap -
 (if you use one), rather than a nylon or cotton one.  Again, this will reduce friction on your hair.

Change the location of your part as often as you can. 
Even a simple part in the hair can trigger a problem when worn in the same position day after day.

Change a braided hair style after 2 to 3 months.

Don't retwist the roots of dreadlocks
Watch this video for first-hand experience of how damaging this can be!

Remove weaves/extensions after 6 to 8 weeks - 
and give the hair some time to recover before using them again.

If you use hairspray or hair gel, wash it out before you next brush your hair.
Brushing dried hairspray and gels out of your hair is damaging to the shaft and may cause further hair loss.

Make sure your hair is hydrated. 
If you're in a dry climate - or you use air conditioning or central heating - the lack of moisture in the air can make your hair brittle and more likely to break.

A humidifier can make a huge difference.

Traction alopecia is showing up more and more often in children.

All the recommendations here apply equally to our young daughters - it's vital to protect their delicate scalps.

Hair loss can be particularly devastating for young girls and teens - and traction alopecia is a PREVENTABLE condition from which we need to protect them.

Healthy hair practices begin in childhood!

Other Remedies for Traction Alopecia

Remedies for traction alopecia

As described earlier, the main remedy for this condition is simply to remove the source of the tension. As long as you do this BEFORE the follicles are permanently damaged, then you should see your hair begin to grow back.

However, some women swear by the effectiveness of scalp massage to encourage regrowth and it certainly can't do any harm to give it a try!

Popular products you can use in conjunction with scalp massage include

We've also received positive reports about the Shea Moisture Thickening Growth Milk line.

Although it is only indicated for treating hereditary hair loss, some women also feel they have benefited from using Rogaine. Remember, however, this can work ONLY if the follicles are still present. If you want to give Rogaine a try, use the foam, which is much easier to apply than the liquid.

One thing we DON'T recommend for encouraging regrowth is the old wives' tale about vigorously brushing the affected area. Not only is it a myth that it makes your hair grow back - it's actually likely to cause even MORE damage!

When Traction Alopecia Compounds Other Hair Loss Problems

If you are wearing a hairpiece - such as a clip on topper - to mask other hair problems like androgenetic alopecia, then you need to be very careful not to compound your problem with traction alopecia!

The best option is to ensure that the clips of your topper are firm, but not too tight, and that you rotate them. We also recommend undoing a couple of the clips when you're at home - it gives your scalp a little rest from the tension.

Traction Alopecia Recovery Time

Most experts agree that your hair should recover within 6 to 9 months of your removing the cause of the problem.

If you've followed the guidelines given here and you are still not seeing regrowth, then it's likely that the damage to your follicles was permanent - a fact your doctor/dermatologist can confirm. In that case, you might like to discuss the possibility of a hair transplant, which will effectively mask the problem.

Hair loss causes

More Hair
Loss Causes

Female pattern hair loss

Female Pattern
Hair Loss

Frontal fibrosing alopecia

Frontal Fibrosing

› Traction Alopecia


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