Balance Beam Alopecia
June 1978
in “
Archives of Dermatology
”
TLDR Hair loss was likely caused by gymnastics activities on a balance beam.
The document described a case of a young woman experiencing hair loss in a linear pattern from the frontal scalp to the occiput. Upon examination, there were no microscopic abnormalities or scalp issues, and the patient initially denied any traction-related causes. However, it was later revealed that the hair loss was associated with the use of a balance beam, a gymnastics apparatus, where repeated headstands and rollovers likely caused traction alopecia. The patient's hair began to regrow after she ceased using the balance beam.
