Bitemporal Hair Loss Related to Traction Alopecia

A 24-year-old woman was initially misdiagnosed with alopecia areata and treated with topical corticosteroids, which provided little improvement. She actually had bitemporal alopecia due to traction alopecia, a condition caused by persistent excessive traction on the hair, often from hairstyles like ponytails. This condition can be reversible if the traction is stopped early; otherwise, it may lead to permanent hair loss. Upon correct diagnosis, the patient was advised to stop the traction-causing hairstyle and began treatment with topical 5% minoxidil solution. After three months, she showed significant improvement.