Types of African American Hair Loss

Types of African American hair loss include progressive, permanent, and temporary.

Progressive Versus Transient

In many people, hair loss is progressive and what you see may not reflect the amount of hair loss in the future for that individual.

A younger person has more time to suffer from progressive hair loss. With somebody over 35, we have more clues whether the hair loss will worsen.

That’s why it’s a little more challenging to achieve great results in younger individuals.

With that in mind, not all types of black hair loss are in fact progressive. Some of us may suffer from medical conditions or hair stresses which are only transient.

For a set period of time it may cause hair loss, but it’s only finite. The hair loss is permanent but the surrounding areas are protected and this can be a great scenario to transplant.

We know exactly what we’re dealing with, we treat it and everybody is happy. It’s a stable target. This may be true in some of the medical conditions which cause scalp scarring and hair loss.

Temporary Causes of Black Hair Loss

A more common condition causing temporary hair loss results from constant pulling or traction on the hair and scalp, most notable in braided hair styles.

Continuous pulling, however, can ultimately damages the hair follicle leading to permanent hair loss.

Fortunately, this is typical in only one area of the scalp, often the hairline. When the pulling abates, the condition stops.

It’s a perfect scenario for achieving great hair transplant results in both African American men & women in New York.

Permanent Causes of African American Hair Loss

Hot comb: Due to the nature of curly hair, the oils which are naturally secreted from the sebaceous gland in the skin has a much more difficult time traveling the length of the hair and lubricating the hair cuticle. This often leads to dry, brittle and cracking hair shafts. Combine this with a hot comb while trying to permanently straighten the hair, and its common to see permanent hair loss.

Different Scarring Alopecias Pattern (male and female): This is the most common form of baldness. In both Caucasian and African scalps, there are a number of other conditions which may lead to hair loss and scarring of the scalp. Particular to the African scalps are conditions such as Central Centrifugal Alopecia, Dissecting Cellulitis, Folliculitis Keloidalis and Folliculitis Barbae. If you have any concern that your hair loss has caused thickened skin or scarring, you are advised to consult your physician for confirmation.

Traumatic Hair Loss (Traction and Trichotillomania): Traction alopecia is a permanent hair loss condition when the hair follicles are irreversibly damaged after constant tugging and pulling on the hair shafts. This can be seen in anybody who braids or pulls back their hair over several years. Most commonly, this condition effects woman of color but is also seen in men who wear turbans or anybody else who pulls the hair.

Trichotillomania is similar and is a nervous habit where someone continuously and repeatedly plucks and ultimately damages the hair permanently.

The obvious first recommend treatment is eliminating the trauma or pulling. However, if it’s too late, the only true solution is hair replacement surgery because medicines or scalp treatments will not remedy.