Main Causes of Hair Thinning Around the Edges

Everywhere you look now you see sisters with thinning hair and hair loss especially around the sides and edges. The medical term for this hair loss is alopecia.


There are many different types of alopecia. Alopecia can be caused from disease, stress on the hair roots, and medical treatments such as chemotherapy. There are 2 types of alopecia that can be prevented: Traction alopecia and Traumatic alopecia


Traction alopecia is caused by constant tight pulling and stress on the hair at the root. Traction alopecia results from very tight hair styles: ponytails, buns, braids, cornrows and can become permanent if tight hair styles are worn often.


Traumatic alopecia is most commonly caused by improper chemical applications. Think about how relaxers are applied. They are smoothed against the head with the back of the fingers, or the comb. The goal is to get the hair really straight around the face. Around the face is where chemicals are smoothed most. How often have you heard the stylist ask “are you burning?” Burning chemicals on the scalp cause trauma to the scalp. The bad effect is that these chemicals go into the pores of your head and they "change" the hair cells underneath the scalp. The unfortunate thing is that this is a permanent change.


Traction alopecia and Traumatic alopecia are preventable. So to prevent hair loss around the edges, choose hair styles that don’t put excessive stress on the hair shaft and ----Stop thinking that chemicals are Safe and use them cautiously to keep your hair on your head.