BH24 Traction Alopecia in Women: An Under-Recognized Cause of Hair Loss

    June 2025 in “ British Journal of Dermatology ”
    Angelyn Chen Yin Lua, Wei Leong Ang, Shiu Ming Pang
    TLDR Traction alopecia is common and preventable, especially among Indian women.
    A study conducted over 77 weeks at a tertiary hospital outpatient dermatology department evaluated the causes of hair loss in 38 adult female patients diagnosed with alopecia. The research found that female pattern hair loss was the most common cause (71%), followed by traction alopecia (34%) and alopecia areata (21%). Notably, traction alopecia was prevalent among Indian patients, affecting 80% of them, despite Indians comprising only 7% of the local population. The study highlights the importance of awareness and education on hair care to prevent traction alopecia, which is potentially treatable if detected early. It also identifies risk factors such as hair practices common among Indian women and coexisting conditions like seborrhoeic dermatitis and eczema, which were more prevalent in the study group than expected. Identifying high-risk groups can aid in early detection and implementation of preventive and treatment strategies for alopecia.
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