| Author | Message | ||
     Anonymous |
I am a 39 year old woman. About 2 weeks ago, I discovered a smooth, bald patch about the size of a quarter near my part, on top of my head. It happened in the very spot where I've been using a hair clip for about 3 months - one that pulled my hair very tightly into a bun. From what I've read, it sounds like traction alopecia (no itch, scarring, etc, and the rest of my hair is just fine). Of course, I stopped using hair clips, ponytail holders, etc., and mainly keep my hair down. The condition hasn't gotten worse, or better, in the last 2 weeks. Does this sound like traction alopecia? If so, will the hair grow back - and if so, do you know how long it takes for this to begin? Any advice? Thanks for any help you can give! Susan | ||
| Anonymous |
I also face the same problem and would like to know if things like minox,lasercomb would help... | ||
| Tom Hagerty |
I don't think you'll find a definitive answer to your question. Sometimes the hair follicles are destroyed from constant tugging and pulling, and especially from tight hair styles. If the hair follicles are destroyed, the hair shaft is gone forever. Hair follicle destruction usually takes place after long periods (years) tugging, pulling, and general abuse though. You used the clip only three months. I think you have a good chance for recovery - and without minox, lasercomb, or incantations from a medicine man. | ||
| Anonymous |
Thanks for your response, Tom. I'm trying to just ignore it (that is, stop looking in the mirror at it) and hopefully it will recover on its own. Would recovery start to take place anytime soon - months, years? I appreciate your help and advice - to me and so many others. Thanks. All the best, Susan | ||
| Tom Hagerty |
Susan: I don't think anyone can legitimately put a number on the time for recovery. Just because the trigger (that dumb hair clip) is gone does not mean that the hair follicles will rebound immediately. I think years is too pessimistic. Months is more realistic. | ||
| Anonymous |
That's good to know. I will try to be patient - maybe use a little brown eye shadow to make the spot less noticeable in the meantime. Thanks again for everything, Tom. A lot of people count on you here on this site - you are doing a great service. All the best, Susan | ||
| Anonymous |
Hi, Tom - just checking in! After trying hard to ignore my bald patch and be patient, I just looked, and happily noticed some regrowth all over the spot. As you advised, I did nothing at all to prompt this - just waited it out and treated my hair kindly. The regrowth is hard to notice now, as the hairs are about 1/2" long, almost white in color, and thinner than the rest of my hair. Do you think this hair will get thicker and/or turn dark eventually? Would it be safe to color it (someday), as I do the rest of my hair? I am so happy to see this progress that I'm taking one day at a time. Thanks again for your help and advice! All the best, Susan | ||
| Tom Hagerty |
Susan: The follicles are still alive and probably will cycle and produce thicker hair eventually. Take it easy with coloring fine, vulnerable hair. Wait it out - "one day at a time." | ||
| Jenifer |
Hi Tom, just wondering: what is the difference between the bad results of traction alopecia and the good results of the hair-pulling that Christopher Walken credits with keeping his hair thick at age 60? Why does one destroy hair follicles and the other help them? | ||
| Tom Hagerty |
Jenifer: Traction alopecia is caused by the continuous pull on the hair, and therefore on the hair follicles, by tight hair styles or compulsive hand movements. (People with compulsive hand movements usually focus on just one section of hair.) The hair-pulling that C. Walken and other thick-maned people do is definitely not of the continuous kind. Each pull many be less than a second and the hands grasp hair in all the areas of the scalp. | ||
| Jenifer |
That makes sense--thanks, Tom. I had a friend who in a time of emotional trouble went through a phase of pulling out her hair, and it did grow back thickly, so apparently this doesn't always spell the end of the hair follicles. |
