Hair Loss: Is There a Relationship with Hair Care Practices in Nigeria?

In a 2005 study, 39 adult female patients in Nigeria were examined to determine the connection between hair care practices and hair loss. The study revealed that symptoms such as itchy scalp (43.6%), painful scalp (28.2%), hair breakage (17.9%), and flaking scalp (10.3%) were common. All participants had used chemical hair relaxants, with 53.7% using them regularly. Scarred alopecias were present in 51.3% of the patients, and nonscarred alopecias in 48.7%. A significant association was found between the frequent use of chemical relaxants and the higher occurrence of scarred alopecia (P<0.001). The study concluded that the use of chemical relaxants and local concoctions contributed to the development of central centrifugal cicatricial alopecias (CCCAS) and other scarring hair loss in the population studied.