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Braiding
hair can cause bald patches according to publication in
International Journal
August 29, 2007:A South African research
paper, published in the British Journal of Dermatology says
that modern hairstyles which tightly braid the hair at the
scalp can lead to permanent bald patches. The finding
relates to popular styles such as "Corn rows" and
extensions, which pull the hair and
research data finds the problem to be more pronounced
when the styles are combined with hair straightening
chemicals.
Researchers found that nearly one in seven children and a
third of women suffered from "traction alopecia", a
type of hair loss directly linked to the hair being
constantly under tension. The frequency of occurrence was
even higher if chemical "relaxers" had been used to
straighten the hair, with one in five children who had used
the chemicals suffering hair loss.
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According to
dermatologists, the problem in an
individual needs to be identified early or the hair
follicles may be permanently damaged, and hair will not grow
back.
Similar reports are surfacing from dermatologists in the
United Kingdom where a spokesman for the British Association
of Dermatologists added: "Some of these hairstyles might be
fashionable, but they can lead to permanent hair loss, which
is difficult to cover up and can have a huge impact on a
person's confidence."
