Black Women's Hair: The Main Scalp Dermatoses and Aesthetic Practices in Women of African Ethnicity

August 2015 in “ Anais Brasileiros de Dermatologia ”

Aline Tanus, Camila Caberlon Cruz Oliveira, Delky Johanna Villarreal Villarreal, Fernando Andres Vargas Sanchez, Maria Fernanda Reis Gavazzoni Dias

TLDR Black women's unique hair characteristics and styling practices can lead to specific scalp conditions, which require early diagnosis and appropriate treatment.

The document from 2015 reviews the unique characteristics of Afro-ethnic hair, the cultural hair styling practices among black women, and the main scalp dermatoses affecting this demographic. It explains that Afro-ethnic hair's fragile structure and the traction from certain hairstyles make it more susceptible to conditions like acquired proximal trichorrhexis nodosa (APTN) and short anagen syndrome. The review also covers the prevalence of traction alopecia (TA) and central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia (CCCA) in black women, detailing their symptoms, risk factors, and the importance of early diagnosis for effective treatment. Treatment recommendations include the use of anti-inflammatory agents, topical corticosteroids, tacrolimus, tetracycline, minoxidil, and hair transplantation. The document also discusses Lichen Planus Pilaris (LPP), Frontal Fibrosing Alopecia (FFA), and androgenetic alopecia, noting that the latter presents with "acquired kinky hair" in black women. It emphasizes the need for dermatologists to recognize these conditions and provide appropriate hair care guidance, including the avoidance of harmful hair practices and the consideration of healthier options like natural hairstyles.

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research Frontal Fibrosing Alopecia and Lichen Planus Pigmentosus: Is There a Link?

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research Hair Breakage as a Presenting Sign of Early or Occult Central Centrifugal Cicatricial Alopecia

44 citations , September 2012 in “Archives of Dermatology”

Hair breakage may be an early sign of a hair loss condition called CCCA in African American women.

research Cicatricial (Scarring) Alopecias: Comprehensive Review and Management

44 citations , August 2012 in “American Journal of Clinical Dermatology”

Scarring alopecias are complex hair loss disorders that require early treatment to prevent permanent hair loss.

research A Detective Look at Hair Biopsies from African-American Patients

40 citations , May 2012 in “British Journal of Dermatology”

Recognizing specific features of African-American hair can help diagnose hair loss conditions.

research Central Centrifugal Cicatricial Alopecia: An Approach to Diagnosis and Management

32 citations , December 2011 in “International Journal of Dermatology”

Diagnose and manage CCCA with thorough history, exams, and labs; treat with anti-inflammatory agents, stress reduction, and stopping harmful hair practices.

research Prevalence and Etiology of Central Centrifugal Cicatricial Alopecia

19 citations , August 2011 in “Archives of Dermatology”

CCCA is a common scarring hair loss in African descent women, possibly linked to genetics, hair care practices, and health issues like diabetes.

research Medical and Environmental Risk Factors for the Development of Central Centrifugal Cicatricial Alopecia

88 citations , August 2011 in “Archives of Dermatology”

Type 2 diabetes, bacterial scalp infections, and tight hairstyles like braids and weaves are linked to a higher risk of a scarring hair loss condition in African American women.

research Short Anagen Syndrome in an African American Woman

10 citations , December 2010 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology”

A 38-year-old African American woman has a rare condition that prevents her from growing long hair.

research Approach to Hair Loss in Women of Color

19 citations , June 2009 in “Seminars in cutaneous medicine and surgery”

Proper education can prevent traction alopecia in women of color.

research Central Centrifugal Cicatricial Alopecia: Past, Present, and Future

75 citations , April 2009 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology”

CCCA is a hair loss type affecting African women, possibly caused by grooming and chemicals, with various treatments and needing more research.

research Determinants of Marginal Traction Alopecia in African Girls and Women

94 citations , September 2008 in “Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology”

Traction alopecia is more common in African women than girls, especially when traction is applied to chemically relaxed hair; avoiding such hairstyles may reduce the risk.

research Lichen Planopilaris: Chronic Scarring Alopecia with Autoimmune Component

90 citations , July 2008 in “Dermatologic therapy”

Lichen planopilaris is a chronic, scarring hair loss condition with no definitive cure, requiring accurate diagnosis and treatment to manage symptoms.

research Cicatricial Alopecia: Classification and Histopathology

74 citations , July 2008 in “Dermatologic therapy”

Early detection and histopathology are crucial to prevent permanent hair loss in cicatricial alopecia.

research Central Centrifugal Cicatricial Alopecia

72 citations , July 2008 in “Dermatologic Therapy”

CCCA is a scarring hair loss condition mainly in African descent women, possibly caused by genetics and hairstyling, treated with gentle hair care and medications.

research Short Anagen Hair Nevus: Improvement After Treatment With 5% Topical Minoxidil

8 citations , July 2007 in “International Journal of Dermatology”

Using 5% topical minoxidil improved and normalized the hair growth in a girl with short anagen hair naevus.

research Traction Alopecia: 2% Topical Minoxidil Shows Promise. Report of Two Cases

40 citations , March 2007 in “Journal of The European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology”

Minoxidil helps hair regrowth in traction alopecia.

research Frontal Fibrosing Alopecia Versus Lichen Planopilaris: A Clinicopathological Study

126 citations , April 2006 in “International Journal of Dermatology”

The conclusion is that FFA and LPP have similar scalp biopsy features, making them hard to distinguish histologically, and FFA may be a specific kind of scarring hair loss.

research Frontal Fibrosing Alopecia: A Survey in 16 Patients

123 citations , August 2005 in “Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology”

The study found that Frontal Fibrosing Alopecia affects a broader age range of women and early treatment can help stop hair loss.

research Extensive Traction Alopecia Attributable to Ponytail Hairstyle and Its Treatment with Hair Transplantation

44 citations , August 2005 in “Aesthetic Plastic Surgery”

Hair transplantation successfully treated a woman's hair loss caused by a tight ponytail.

research Frontal Fibrosing Alopecia Developing After Hair Transplantation for Androgenetic Alopecia

64 citations , April 2005 in “International Journal of Dermatology”

Hair transplant destroyed by lichen planopilaris.

research Medical and Surgical Therapies for Alopecias in Black Women

105 citations , June 2004 in “Dermatologic Therapy”

The document concludes that proper diagnosis and a combination of medical, hair-care, and surgical treatments are important for managing alopecia in black women.

research Hair Density in African Americans

129 citations , June 1999 in “Archives of Dermatology”

African Americans have less hair density than whites.

research Increased Scalp Skin and Serum 5a-Reductase Reduced Androgens in a Man Relevant to the Acquired Progressive Kinky Hair Disorder and Developing Androgenetic Alopecia

11 citations , September 1997 in “Archives of Dermatology”

Reduced androgens linked to kinky hair disorder and hair loss; 5a-reductase inhibitors may help.

research Postmenopausal frontal fibrosing alopecia: A frontal variant of lichen planopilaris

329 citations , January 1997 in “Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology”

Frontal fibrosing alopecia is a hair loss condition in postmenopausal women, similar to lichen planopilaris, with ineffective treatments.

3 / 3 results

research Hair Loss (Alopecia or Baldness)

June 2018

Baldness is often hereditary and linked to male hormones, becoming noticeable when half the hair is lost.

research Treatments of Hereditary Hair Loss (Alopecia)

April 2018

Some treatments like minoxidil, finasteride, and surgery can help with hereditary hair loss.

research Black Women's Hair: The Main Scalp Dermatoses and Aesthetic Practices in Women of African Ethnicity

32 citations , August 2015 in “Anais Brasileiros de Dermatologia”

Black women's unique hair characteristics and styling practices can lead to specific scalp conditions, which require early diagnosis and appropriate treatment.