Is Your Hairstyle Causing Hair Loss?

It’s straightforward to enter autopilot when slicking your hair again right into a bun or braids. In any case, it’s as a lot part of a dancer’s routine as stretching or taping up your toes. However repeatedly pulling your hair into tight types can result in a sort of hair loss referred to as traction alopecia. “It is a type of alopecia attributable to injury to the follicles from constant pulling on the hair,” says Gretchen Friese, a licensed BosleyMD trichologist. Whereas the situation can take years to develop, there are steps you’ll be able to take to attenuate the chance of inflicting injury within the first place (and indicators to look out for alongside the best way). 

Change Up Your Styling Methods

“In the event you can, change your hairstyles as a lot as attainable so that you’re not pulling your hair in the identical manner,” advises Dr. Michele Green, a board-certified dermatologist in New York Metropolis with intensive expertise in hair loss therapy. “Traction alopecia isn’t simply attributable to a bun—I’ve seen it with braids or a very tight ponytail—it’s simply a number of pressure on the hair, and it’s actually pulling the hair out.” Inexperienced additionally suggests taking your hair down as quickly as you’re finished with class or a efficiency, and Friese says to keep away from carrying your hair in a decent fashion in a single day, too.

As a result of this sort of hair loss isn’t precipitated or exacerbated by styling merchandise, Pascal Gantois, a senior stylist at Rita Hazan Salon in New York Metropolis, suggests utilizing loads of product to faux a sleeker search for class and saving tighter types for performances. It doesn’t matter what fashion you’re attempting to attain, Gantois recommends utilizing a gel and strong-hold hairspray (he likes Milbon Further Sturdy Maintain Hairspray 10 and Oribe Rock Laborious Gel). In the event you’re a bunhead, Gantois says to maintain it low. “Parting the hair and doing a low bun will likely be much less damaging to the scalp and roots than a excessive bun,” he says, including that utilizing thicker bobby pins offers a tighter maintain.

Keep away from relaxers or different chemical therapies as a lot as attainable, which might burn the hair and trigger extra trauma. Inexperienced, whose sufferers embody Broadway actors, notes that wigs and extensions can be “brutal” on the hair.

Look ahead to the Indicators and Signs

Friese says you’ll know your day by day coiffure is just too tight if it hurts on the scalp. However the indicators that you possibly can be creating traction alopecia are extra diversified than that and embody every thing from scalp itchiness and follicular pustules (pimples) to hair breakage. “Generally you see irritation across the space, otherwise you’ll see the hairline altering,” says Inexperienced of what to look out for. “Some folks see redness, the half widening or hair breaking off,” she continues. “When it’s actually far gone, you see hair loss and pores and skin that’s kind of shiny as a result of the follicles there are lifeless.”

Suppose You’re Already Experiencing Traction Alopecia?

Whereas altering your coiffure is vital to stopping and treating traction alopecia, it’s at all times greatest to seek the advice of with an expert as quickly as you discover any of the indicators. A dermatologist with expertise in hair loss therapies can verify your prognosis and, in instances of extra extreme traction alopecia, prescribe therapies. “The hot button is to not wait should you assume you’re shedding hair, as a result of it may be more durable to deal with,” stresses Inexperienced. “It is dependent upon the scenario, but when the scalp is de facto infected, chances are you’ll want an antibiotic to deal with an infection or chances are you’ll want to begin on some minoxidil to regrow the hair,” she says of widespread therapy choices.

Friese provides {that a} minoxidil-based therapy, just like the BosleyMD Hair Regrowth Treatment, might assist to regrow hair, whereas topical steroids and antifungal shampoos will help with swelling on the scalp. And each Inexperienced and Friese word that bloodwork and a tissue biopsy may be useful for ruling out different causes of hair loss. “It’s actually vital to search out out why it’s taking place,” says Inexperienced. “Hair loss can be from poor eating regimen, anemia, thyroid issues, genetics or hormonal issues.”