From all the perming, coloring, gelling, braiding, combing, brushing, and the list goes on, there’s no wonder why our scalp and hair act out on us.
Well, the fact of the matter is, many women of color are
now facing the brunt from all those years of that type of wear and tear.
But here's the good news--there is hope for you yet!
Find out what's ailing you, see a hair and scalp specialist and nurse your scalp and hair to health.
Common Diseases and Conditions of Black Hair
Acne Keloidalis Nuchae
Acne keloidalis nuchae (AKN) refers to the occurrence of keloidike papules and plaques on the occipial scalp and the posterior part of the neck, almost exclusively in African American men.
Alopecia (hair loss)
Alopecia (hair loss) is of epidemic proportion for many women of color. Although there have been magazine articles and television segments about alopecia, it continues to be poorly understood by many women. There are many different causes of alopecia that affect women with brown skin. However, there are two types of hair loss that women with curly or tightly coiled hair are plagued with: central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia and traction alopecia.
Alopecia Areata
Sudden loss of hair especially of the scalp or face in circumscribed patches with little or no inflammation, alopecia areata is hair loss of unknown causes, characterized by round patches of complete baldness.
Androgenetic Alopecia (Female pattern baldness)
Hereditary androgen-dependent hair loss that is associated with the shrinkage of hair follicles and the shortening of the anagen phase of hair growth and that is typically characterized by moderate to severe hair loss on the temples and crown in men and diffuse thinning on the crown in women.
Atopic Dermatitis (Eczema)
Atopic dermatitis is a long-lasting (chronic) skin problem. It causes dry skin, intense itching, and then a red, raised rash. In severe cases, the rash forms clear, fluid-filled blisters. It cannot be spread from person to person.
Eczema
An inflammatory condition of the skin characterized by redness, itching, and oozing vesicular lesions which become scaly, crusted, or hardened.
Folliculitus (Barber’s itch)
Folliculitis is inflammation of one or more hair follicles. The condition may occur anywhere on the skin.
Monilethrix
An inherited disease of the hair in which each hair appears as if strung with small beads or nodes.
Scarring Alopecia
Scarring alopecia, also known as cicatricial alopecia, refers to a collection of hair loss disorders that may be diagnosed in up to 3% of hair loss patients. It occurs worldwide in otherwise healthy men and women of all ages.
Tinea Corporis (Ringworm of the body)
A skin infection due to dermatophytes, a type of fungi. Tinea corporis (often called ringworm of the body) is a common skin disorder, especially among children however, it may occur in people of all ages.
Traction Alopecia
Traction alopecia is more common in women than in men because women are more involved with hairstyling practices such as braiding or chemical hair straightening, and they are more likely to use tight curlers and nylon brushes and to wear chignons.
Trichorrhexis Nodosa
A problem in which thickened or weak points (nodes) along the hair shaft cause your hair to break off easily.
SOURCES:
Articles
African American diseases: Amy J. McMichael, “Hair and scalp disorders in ethnic populations”, 2003, Dermatol Clin 21 629–644
Skinandaging.com: Heather Woolery-Lloyd, M.D., “Insights Into Ethnic Skin and Hair” ISSN: 1096-0120 - Volume 11 - Issue 02 - February 2003 - Pages: 8 – 8
Websites
American Academy of Dermatology – aad.org
Brownskin.net/hair_loss - Dr. Susan Taylor
eMedicine.com Familydoctor.org
HairDiseases.com
National Library of Medicine – nlm.nih.gov
National Institutes of Health – nih.gov
Medline Plus – medlineplus.gov
Skinstreet.net
WebMD.com
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