Braids, wigs, and extensions can be worn safely. They are not the direct cause of hair loss.
Too much tension on the hair causes follicles to become inflamed. That’s when hair breaks.
Women may notice hair loss but feel trapped in a cycle of wearing extensions to cover it.
Treatments to Consider If You Are Losing Hair
Although traction alopecia is a devastating condition, it can be treated.
One method is steroid injections. Traction alopecia is caused by inflammation. You can use a compound with minoxidil that helps growth. In other words, this is a steroid. Add a little bit of tretinoin to help it all penetrate.
Platelet-rich plasma therapy, in which growth factors from the patient’s blood are injected into the scalp, can also stimulate hair growth as well.
Another remedy is to refrain from wearing tension-heavy styles that cause alopecia. This is only temporary.
Instead, smaller, consistent changes work as well. Giving the hair a 3 to 4-week break and using essential oils including thyme, rosemary, cedarwood, and peppermint helps as well.
With consistency, hair regrowth can happen and your edges can return!