Very often, our hair is subject to mechanical damage and the harmful effects of external factors - temperature changes, aggressive dyes, UV rays and hot air produced by a hair dryer during drying, as well as frequent pulling out while wearing tight hair. As a result, the curls begin to fade, become unkempt, and fall out strongly. If such an effect is not suspended, then baldness or traction alopecia can occur.
Traction alopecia is an artificial hair loss associated with their injuries. Unlike other types of alopecia, the development of which occurs due to hormonal disruption, autoimmune diseases, lack of vitamins and severe stress, external stimuli are the causes of such baldness.
The disease occurs due to the frequent jerking of their locks and wearing tight hairstyles. At risk are people who prefer:
- wear dreadlocks
- tight tails,
- braid african pigtails
- to do hair with bouffant
- to pull hair in the bun
- often use curlers to form curls.
Usually, representatives of the Negroid race are subject to mechanical alopecia, because almost all traditional hairstyles have their hair too tight. Men, letting go of long hair and tying them in a tail, can also observe hairs on their crown. For example, Japanese samurai, sumo wrestlers or rockers very often suffer from this disease.
Causes of traction alopecia are different. Many of them are associated with wearing tight hairstyles. For example, if you like to tie curls in a bun at the roots or constantly make bouffant, this can lead to injury to the hair and the formation of bald patches.
An interesting moment! Lovers of modern hairstyles need to think carefully before making dreadlocks. The use of special chemicals severely damages the curls, and already after 4–5 hours of wearing the hair, twisted into bundles, the naked eye can see their trauma.
Baldness is most intense when chemicals are used to soften hair before twisting or braiding.
The initial stage of alopecia of the traction type is characterized by abundant hair loss in the area of the forehead, temples and at the place of wearing the parting.
Then, if the problem is not resolved, the skin is covered with brown or yellow scales that prevent normal access of oxygen to the follicles. At this stage, the strands become very brittle, the normal color of the hair is lost and puncture appears.
The third stage is characterized by the formation of baldness. Usually, significant bald patches appear in the zone where the maximum load was exercised while wearing the hair.
For example, a bald patch appears on the top of the head when tying a tight tail or along the hairline above the forehead in case of a strong tension of the curls when stabbing the bangs up.
Diagnostics
If you began to notice bald spots, immediately visit the trichologist. A specialized specialist during the examination and interview of a patient can make a preliminary diagnosis of “traction alopecia” if he has an addiction to tight hair styles.
But you should definitely go through an additional examination to rule out other factors of hair loss, namely:
- prescribe trichogram
- examine the internal organs for ultrasound,
- write out a referral for a blood test for hormones and general,
- take a scraping from the scalp to identify the fungus and examine it under a microscope,
- determine the state of immunity.
When this examination revealed no serious violations, a diagnosis of mechanical damage to the hair is made.
People who have a diagnosis of traction alopecia, do not get very upset. It is enough to eliminate the factor influencing the formation of bald patches, and after some time the hair will become thick and beautiful. The only thing that can be advised in such a case is to strengthen the curls and feed the follicles so that the new hairs will look flawless.
If the disease is too neglected, then conservative treatment may be ineffective. In the case when the follicles have already died, the only correct solution will be a surgical procedure aimed at hair transplantation. If you do not want to resort to the operation of transplantation due to contraindications, a solution to wearing a wig will be a way out of an unpleasant situation.
Medicamentous
Drug treatment involves local use various ointments, shampoos and creams that are applied to the skin of hair in the bald area.
As a rule, special shampoos are used to activate hair growth: Friderm, Burdock, Horsepower, Rinofoltil “Strengthened Formula”, Vichy Dercos, Alerana, Fitoval and many others.
Most of them have anti-fungal and anti-inflammatory effects, as well as improve the microcirculation of the skin.
Also recommended:
- apply special ointments and creams to balding areas (cream, spray and masks based on Minoxidil, Finasteride and other substances active in alopecia),
- resort to special vitamins for hair growth, which can be purchased in the form of ampoules at any pharmacy,
- ingest dietary supplements that strengthen curls,
- give up bad habits and establish a daily routine,
- eat a balanced diet
If you comply with all the above prescriptions, in the near future, normal, full-fledged hair will appear at the place of the formed “bare” islands.
Physiotherapy
Very often, dermatologists and trichologists prescribe a course of special procedures, which help to improve the microcirculation of the skin. Thanks to their use, the hair follicle receives the necessary nutrients.
The most popular are:
- massage of the scalp with the hands or a special apparatus,
- darsenvalization, when blood circulation is activated by current discharges,
- mesotherapy, which involves the injection of activating substances and vitamins under the skin,
- plasma lifting, which implies injections of a person's own plasma under the skin (the protective properties of the body are improved and the growth of curls is accelerated),
- electroporation, providing the introduction of drugs using electric pulses.
All these procedures are carried out in medical institutions or in the office of a beautician. Expect to get the effect? Be sure to go through the number of sessions recommended by your doctor.
Folk ways
Folk remedies have proved quite good in the fight against mechanical alopecia - tinctures, decoctions, masks and ointments, prepared on the basis of medicinal plants. To improve the microcirculation of the skin is usually used:
- honey,
- mustard
- red hot pepper,
- burdock or castor oil,
- bow,
- bread crumb,
- egg yolk.
Mustard Mask
This remedy “warms up” the skin of the head well and feeds the follicles with useful microelements. After the frequent use of such a mask, the curls will become beautiful and shiny, and the hair bulbs will soon throw away full hair.
You will need:
- 2 tbsp. l mustard powder,
- 2 tbsp. l boiled water
- 1 yolk,
- 1 tbsp. l sugar,
- 2 tbsp. l sunflower oil.
Preparation and use:
- Dissolve the water with mustard.
- In the resulting slurry, add the yolk. Stir the mixture well with a fork.
- Add sugar and add olive oil. Mix the contents of the pot again.
- Apply gruel to the scalp.
- Put on the cellophane cap and wrap the hair with a towel.
- After a few minutes of holding, you should feel a slight burning sensation. If it is not strong, then keep the mask for 40 minutes. In the presence of serious tingling, it is better to suffer 10-15 minutes.
- Wash your hair with shampoo.
The recommended course is a month with application every 7 days.
Burdock mask
Everyone knows that the extract from burdock root (burdock oil) is rich in vitamins and trace elements. That is why even trichologists recommend using this product to strengthen the follicles.
Ingredients:
- 2 tbsp. l castor oil
- 2 tbsp. l burdock oil,
- 5 ml of freshly squeezed lemon juice.
Preparation and use:
- Connect 2 types of oils (castor and burdock) in a ceramic pot.
- Place the container in a water bath and bring to a temperature of 45 degrees. This simple manipulation will allow you to activate useful components of the hood.
- Add 5 ml of lemon juice to the suspension.
- Put means on a dirty head before its washing.
- Massage the dermis for 5-7 minutes.
- The head is covered with a cellophane cap and wrapped with a towel.
- Waiting for the order of hours.
- After the specified time, the hair is washed using a shampoo (preferably to activate hair growth).
The course of therapy is several months using a mask every 4 days.
Crumb Mask
This tool is particularly popular because it effectively copes with its task - the acceleration of growth and watering the hair follicles.
Ingredients:
- 100 g stale black bread
- 3 tbsp. l boiled water
- 1 tbsp. l lemon juice.
Preparation and use:
- Soak stale bread in boiled water.
- After an hour, squeeze it in your hands until a slurry is formed.
- Enter lemon juice.
- Apply the mixture to the root of the head.
- Wrap a towel.
- Wait an hour. Rinse with warm water without using shampoo.
Regularity of the procedure - 2 times a week.
An important point! Quite well in the fight against traction alopecia has proved itself tincture on the basis of hot pepper. It is sold ready-made in every pharmacy. Just rub the tool in places balding. No need to flush.
Prevention
Prevention of traction alopecia is reduced to the elimination of factors that can lead to hair loss. You need to stop making tight tails, comb your hair, pull them tight into the bun. It is also recommended to abandon the perm and frequent use of hair dryers and irons.
The effectiveness of the fight against the disease depends on the stage of the disease. If you have recently started to develop mechanical alopecia, it is enough to exclude a factor affecting the injury and reinforce the hair follicle. In the case of severe baldness, surgery may be necessary associated with hair follicles transplantation.
Useful videos
Alopecia - causes, characteristics and treatment.
How to grow hair normal?
The pomp and density of the hair is determined by heredity. On the scalp there is a certain number of hair follicles, each of which is in a certain stage of existence. 
Follicles independently pass through three stages of development:
- Anagen. This is the stage of hair growth. It lasts an average of 3 years, 83-87% of all the follicles located on the head are in this stage at the same time.
- Catagen. This name is an intermediate stage in which at the same time remains 2-3% of the follicles.
- Telogen. The rest stage, in which 10-15% of the follicles are present, continues to the rest stage for about 3 months.
By the end of the last stage, hair actively growing in the anagen phase dies off and falls out. Then the follicle again goes through the entire development cycle. Normally, about a hundred hairs fall out per day, especially active prolapse is observed when washing and combing.
If the cycle of the existence of follicles for some reason is broken, then the process of baldness or alopecia begins.
There are several types of alopecia:
Causes of development
Traction alopecia is a traumatic alopecia. Hair loss in this case is triggered by frequent twitching of the hair (trichotillomania), as well as addiction to certain hairstyles.
Most often, traction alopecia develops in individuals who often wear:
- African braids,
- Tight tails and bunches,
- Hairstyles, requiring performance bouffant.
The wrong technique for doing hairstyles can also lead to the development of traction alopecia. For example, if you curl your hair too tightly on curlers and do it regularly, then the hair may fall out.
Especially often traction alopecia develops if, simultaneously with the tension of the hair, chemical agents are used to soften them - compositions for chemical straightening or curling of the hair. As well as the cause of baldness can be decalvating folliculitis, since this disease affects the hair follicles.
With traction alopecia, the hair usually falls in the area of the visas and along the line of the forehead. Although the localization of foci of baldness will depend on the type of hairstyle, that is, the hair will begin to fall out where they are exposed to the strongest tension.
At the first stage of the disease, areas of erythema stably rising are formed around the follicles, some soreness on the scalp is felt. If the traumatic factor persists, then yellow-brown flakes form on the skin, the hair becomes more fragile and thin. In the end, the hair breaks off or falls out, and patches of baldness are formed on the scalp.
Diagnostic methods
Alopecia can be caused by a variety of reasons, so it is important to identify the factors that led to hair loss. A preliminary diagnosis can be made if in the course of the examination it becomes clear that the patient has a habit of performing dense tight styling with combing the hair back or with fleece.
However, a complete diagnosis is necessary to eliminate other causes of hair loss. Therefore, it is necessary to conduct a series of tests to determine the hormonal status, exclude infection and fungal lesions of the scalp.
Treatment methods
To get rid of traction alopecia, it is necessary to eliminate the traumatic factor.
In the early stages of the disease, it is enough to change the hairstyle to cope with the problem. After eliminating the traumatic factor, the follicles quickly recover and the hair gradually grows. 
To stimulate the fastest hair restoration, patients are recommended:
- Eat well by ensuring that there is enough protein and vitamins in the diet,
- Get rid of bad habits
- Enough to sleep, try to avoid stress.
In addition, drug treatment and physiotherapy can be prescribed.
When running traction alopecia is running, conservative treatment techniques are ineffective. If the hair follicles are dead and scar tissue has formed in their place as with epidermolysis bullosa, then to restore the natural hair growth, it is possible to perform a transplant of a donor's hair or a patient's own hair. If you do not want to have an operation or if there are contraindications, cosmetic correction is recommended - wearing a wig.
Drug treatment
To stimulate the hair follicles are used cosmetic and therapeutic agents, it is:
- Special shampoos, masks, balsams and lotions,
- Ampoules for hair growth,
- Supplements for taking inside.
Today, to stimulate hair growth, most often used:
- Minoxidil,
- Finasteride (Finasteride),
- NuGenHP.
It must be borne in mind that self-treatment with these drugs is unacceptable, since their use has contraindications and side effects. Therefore, the use of funds can only be recommended by a doctor.
As a rule, in addition to external treatment for alopecia, vitamin complexes are prescribed. The composition of the complex is selected individually, after analysis, allowing to detect the presence of a deficiency of certain substances in the body.
Physiotherapy
To stimulate the hair follicles, the following treatments are used:
- Massage to restore blood circulation and improve the nutrition of follicles. This massage is also used in the treatment of moniletrix,
- Plasmolifting (PRP-therapy). This method of treatment consists in introducing the patient's own plasma under the scalp. The procedure is used to improve immunity and accelerate hair growth.
- Mesotherapy - a technique consisting in conducting a course of injections of vitamins and minerals under the skin. The goal of treatment is to improve the nutrition of the follicles.
- Electroporation. This method of treating baldness is based on the introduction of drugs with the help of electric current pulses.
Treatment by folk methods
For the treatment of traction alopecia, you can use the means of folk treatment to stimulate hair growth.
Honey masks. Honey stimulates follicles well, so this component is often used in masks. It is necessary to mix honey and butter in proportion to a teaspoon of honey - a tablespoon of oil. The number of components depends on the length of the hair and the area of the center of baldness. Oil can be used any. Ideal - burdock, castor or unrefined olive, but you can take whatever you have on hand. Honey is ground with oil, the composition is applied to the foci of alopecia, slightly rubbing, then spread over the hair. Put on a shower cap, make a turban of a terry towel. An hour later, wash hair.
To stimulate the follicles, you can use the tincture of red pepper on alcohol. The composition is gently rubbed into the skin in places baldness. Tincture stimulates blood flow, which improves the nutrition of follicles.
Causes of this type of alopecia
Judging by the numerous photos, traction alopecia is the most distinguished among other species, since it shows the characteristic signs of alopecia. The main reason for this pathology, which from Latin means “tension”, is the performance of some complex hairstyles that strongly pull the hair.
Common hairstyles that cause disease and subsequent loss:
- Waterfall.
- Hairstyles with performance bouffant.
- Bundles.
- Taut high tails.
- "African dreadlocks".
Often, this type of alopecia develops after the first long stretch of hair, which has been applied chemical means for straightening or curling. In other words, after 3-5 hours of wearing a tight hairstyle, a traumatic loss may begin, which, judging by the photo, affects the entire base of the head, creating pockets of irregular shape. The disease is mainly susceptible to women who are accustomed to conducting experiments with hair.
However, the representatives of the strong half, constantly wearing braids, bunches and tails, are also subject to rapid loss and thinning.
At the initial stage of alopecia of the traction type, the hair begins to fall in certain parts of the head:
- Forehead line,
- Whiskey and temporal region,
- Parting area.
However, the bald patches and the center of baldness mainly depend on the hairstyle, or rather, on its location:
- As a result of a long bundle of hair, the hair begins to fall on the top of the head.
- When stabbing bangs strands actively fall on the forehead line, creating a strong bald spot.
- When wearing tails, the part of the head on which the strongest load was placed is affected.
Important: this type of alopecia does not require a long treatment and taking a course of medications - the patient only needs to stop exposing the strong load to the hair, as well as use strengthening agents that restore strength, thickness and health of the hair.
Symptoms of traction alopecia
This pathology develops in a patient in stages, each of which carries a certain danger to the patient.
If time to exclude all factors of the disease, alopecia can be overcome at any, even the initial stage of development:
- The first stage involves the development of erythema patches around the roots and follicles that are constantly elevated. During this period, the person feels weak, but constant pain that accompanies him in “any condition of the hair,” that is, when washing, combing, and so on.
- If the impact factors have not been stopped and the traumatic factor continues, then brown or yellow scales gradually form on the top layer of the scalp. Also at this stage the strands become more brittle, dry and lifeless.
- At the third stage, active hair loss and thinning begins, which lead to the appearance of baldness and strong pockets of baldness.
Also during this period, it is important to follow a diet that includes only healthy and nutritious foods.
The traction type of alopecia is not considered dangerous and difficult to cure, the main thing is to immediately understand why the hair began to actively thin out - then it will be possible at the initial stage to defeat the pathology and preserve the health of the hair.
Who can have traction alopecia?
To the acquired types of hair loss can be attributed to traction alopecia, which is traumatic in nature. Hair loss in this case provokes their frequent jerking (trichotillomania) or addiction to certain types of hairstyles.
In most cases, this type of alopecia is observed in people who prefer African braids, tight bunches or tails, as well as hairstyles with rubs. However, the wrong technique of performing one or another hairstyle may lead to it. So, if you use hair curlers to do it too tightly and often, the hair can not stand and fall out.
The development of traction alopecia is also likely in cases where chemical agents are used along with the tension. As a rule, this means for curling or straightening hair. Another cause of the disease can be a folliculitis decalvating - damage to the hair sacs.
Form of tractional hair loss
During traction alopecia, hair loss occurs in the temporal and frontal areas. But the localization of zones of baldness depends on the type of hair, that is, the hair will begin to crumble in those places where they were subjected to the strongest tension.
Initially, the disease around the hair follicles will form areas of erythema, which is accompanied by painful sensations on the skin. With continued exposure to the traumatic factor, the formation of yellow-brown flakes is noted. In this case, the hair begins to break and weaken. As a result, they completely break off or fall out and the head is covered with areas of baldness.
Methods of dealing with hair loss on traction basis
In order to get rid of the disease, you need to determine the cause of such hair loss. For this, the patient's hairstyle is taken into account. It is also necessary to pass the appropriate tests.
If the disease was detected at the very beginning, then changing the hairstyle will most likely be a sufficient solution to the problem. When the traumatic factor is removed, the follicles will recover rather quickly. At the same time, physiotherapy is prescribed, as well as drug treatment. You can use folk remedies.
If alopecia is a neglected form, that is, the hair follicles are dead and scar tissue has appeared instead, then the only solution would be a hair transplant.
FAQ dropout
men's hair
I do weightlifting and now is pre-competitive preparation. It will go about 2 months, so I would not want to postpone this issue for a long time. How long will I need after the operation, and in general will I need to take a break in sports?
Good afternoon, tell me, after hair transplantation, you can continue to use Minoxidil, to massage the head to preserve your hair. And how it will affect the transplanted hair.
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Differential diagnosis of traction hair loss
• Gnezdnaya alopecia manifested by the complete absence of hair in the lesion focus and the presence of characteristic hairs in the form of an "exclamation mark". The diameter of such hair is smaller near the scalp and more on areas remote from the skin surface, which gives the hair the appearance of an “exclamation mark”. Re-growing hair in the nidus of alopecia areata is often very light.
• Dermatophytosis of the scalp is characterized by broken off near the surface of the skin by hair shafts and manifests desquamation and / or inflammation. Some foci of dermatophytosis of the scalp fluoresce when viewed under the Wood's lamp (ultraviolet rays). Microscopic examination with KOH can detect the presence of a dermatophyte. Sometimes a culture of hair and scales is necessary for diagnosis.
• Cicatricial alopecia (lichen planus of the scalp, undermining folliculitis) is characterized by loss of hair follicles and lack of hair. Scars develop and changes in pigmentation are observed on the scalp.
• Telogen hair loss (postpartum hair loss) is associated with hair loss in the postpartum period and can occur after other stressful events, such as surgery or severe illness, while even hair loss leads to a decrease in the thickness of the entire scalp, unlike focal hair thinning with traction alopecia.
• Androgenetic alopecia hair thinning in the central areas of the head in women and on the crown and temples in men. In women with similar symptoms, it is necessary to exclude hormonal disorders such as hirsutism, amenorrhea or infertility.
Clinical picture
The clinical picture of traction alopecia is characterized by a rarefaction of the more sensitive areas of hair, implies elimination of negative effects on hair, physical or chemical character.
Frequent twitching, improper combing and addiction to tight hairstyles provoke their loss. In addition, hair loss contributes to:
- tight tails
- frequent curling of hair in bunches,
- tight curlers
- hairstyles with combing technique,
- wearing heavy wigs,
- chemical straightening and curling,
- very frequent use of hair dryer.
Usually, hair along the line of the forehead, in the region of the nape and the temporal part, suffers most They can also fall in the area of the partitions, between pigtails.
At the initial stage of traction alopecia, erythema foci form around the damaged hair follicles, which are accompanied by a noticeable pain in this area.
If at this stage to continue exposure to aggressive factors, the disease begins to manifest the appearance of yellow-brown scales. And already at this stage begins the weakening of the hair, followed by loss.
At the onset of alopecia, some patients may have broken hair that does not have an inflammatory nature and has no signs of flaking. Damaged foci are not devoid of vegetation, but have hair of different lengths, sometimes marked the formation of bristle hair.
Folk methods
Do not neglect folk methods to combat traction alopecia. In combination with other activities, they can be used as an effective therapy.
Honey masks. No wonder honey is often used in hair products. The secret to this ingredient is in follicle stimulation. For this, honey is mixed in equal proportions with any unrefined oil. The composition of the oil and honey is applied to the affected by alopecia lesions and rubbed with gentle movements, evenly distributing over the entire surface of the hair. Then they fix everything with a shower cap, and to enhance the effect they wrap their heads with a warm towel.
If you have an allergic reaction to honey, you may come to the rescue. spirit tincture with red pepper. The resulting composition must be rubbed locally in places that have undergone balding. Tincture actively stimulates blood flow, directly nourishing the follicles.
