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Mike Kaine, MD Written by Erin D. Updated on 30 Aug 2024
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EXPERT GUIDE

Traction Alopecia Guide

Medically reviewed by

Mike Kaine, MD

This text was written according to the highest scientific standards and reviewed by medical experts. Find out more about our quality assurance.

Written by Erin D. Updated on 30 Aug 2024
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Over 80% of men and 25% of women suffer from alopecia, especially as they get older. The most common cause of hair loss is pattern baldness, a hereditary condition. However, did you know that some of us practically cause ourselves to lose hair by tying it too tight or repeatedly pulling on it? This is what is known as traction alopecia. This guide will discuss everything you need to know about traction alopecia, including its causes, symptoms, and prevention methods.

Most Important Findingssvg

Causes Tight hairstyles
Symptoms Tiny bumps
Prevention Wear hair down
Treatment Hair Transplant

Key Statistics on Traction Alopecia

  • Traction alopecia affects one-third of all women of African descent.
  • A study published in The Journal of American Academy of Dermatology found that 59% of participants with traction alopecia had a history of wearing tightly pulled hairstyles. 
  • While traction alopecia can affect individuals of all ages, it is most commonly seen in adult women.

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Causes of Traction Alopecia

The primary cause of traction alopecia is wearing your hair too tight. The hair being repeatedly pulled back causes the hair shaft in each hair follicle to loosen and eventually come unstuck. Any hairstyle that keeps your hair pulled back can cause you to lose hair very often. These include:

  • Hair being pulled back and tied up into a ponytail or bun.
  • Hair being woven into a tight braid, deadlock or cornrow.
  • Putting your hair up in rollers throughout the night. 

In some cases, even people with extremely long hair can get traction alopecia due to the excessive amount of pressure being placed on their scalp. 

The ones most commonly affected by this type of alopecia are African-American women, along with ballerinas and gymnasts who often have to put their hair up in a bun or ponytail before starting their routine. 

Symptoms and Diagnosis

Traction alopecia is very unique as it actually gives itself away before you actually start losing hair. Patients affected by it claim that the condition showed up as little bumps on their scalp that looked like pimples before they eventually started losing hair. 

The condition also has another tell, as it only affects the hair at the front and sides of your scalp first. Making it easier to diagnose as it doesn’t cause random patches of hair to fall out. Instead, it only affects the hair that has been pulled.

Other symptoms include:

  • Itching
  • Bumps
  • Redness in the scalp
  • Scaling
  • Soreness in the scalp

Typical female pattern hair loss: The ludwig scale.

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Prevention of Traction Alopecia

You probably already know where we’re going to go with this, but the best way to prevent traction alopecia is to wear your hair down from time to time. You can still tie it up in the occasional ponytail, but when you do make sure to keep it low on your head and loose. 

Also, it would be a good idea to alternate between hairstyles every week. Some days you could tie your hair up in a braid, and on others, you could just let them down. Additionally, make sure you do not tie your hair up with a rubber or elastic band as they pull harder on your hair. If you wear weaves or hair extensions, then try to use them in short bursts and never overnight. 

That is pretty much all the tips we have. The only other thing we would add is taking regular care of your hair using shampoos and conditioners to ensure both your hair and scalp can be as resistant as possible to the pulling effect. 

Treatment Options for Traction Alopecia

We have already underlined the best treatment options for traction alopecia as some lifestyle changes that involve wearing your hair down more often. And make sure that you don’t wear your hair too tight if you do decide to put them in a ponytail, bun, or braid. If it hurts when you tie it, then it is probably too tight. 

You should also avoid excessive use of chemicals and heat on your hair. If you do end up visiting a dermatologist for your hair loss, they’re most likely going to prescribe you the following medications:

  • Topical Minoxidil to regrow the hair you’ve already lost. 
  • Topical steroids to reduce the swelling
  • Anti-fungal or anti-bacterial shampoos. 
  • Vitamin and biotin supplements to help your hair regain its strength. 

In case your hair loss is beyond repair, you may even have to opt for a hair transplant for a more permanent solution to your hair loss problem.

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Psychological and Social Impact

Losing hair can be a disheartening and frankly frightening experience for both men and women. Both men and women report extreme dissatisfaction with their body image, feeling less attractive, and a substantial decrease in life satisfaction after becoming aware of their hair loss. 

Also, both men and women seem to cope with losing their hair by building additional body muscle, dressing better, and wearing hats. Keeping this in mind, we at Medihair understand that addressing your psychological well-being is just as important as trying to regain your lost hair. 

Which is why we would suggest getting regular appointments with psychiatrists to keep your mental health in check while you try to get back the hair you lost.

Conclusion

Fortunately, traction alopecia is easily reversible. However, you need to take action quickly and stop wearing your hair in tight buns, braids or ponytails to ensure that the hair follicle’s shaft stays intact. If you act quickly enough, your hair should grow back normally over time. 

But we would still advise visiting a hair care specialist if you have experienced hair fall whenever you wear your hair tightly. Your doctor may prescribe topical minoxidil to grow back the hair you’ve lost or a hair transplant if the damage is permanent. Make sure you follow their instructions down to the letter. 

Sources

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