After my mystery bald spot reveal, I've received some lovely encouraging words and some theories. After a Google search or two, I think I've narrowed it down to a couple of forms of Alopecia. Alopecia is essentially a blanket word for hair loss with different forms stemming from different causes.
I believe my alopecia, which has come and gone with my sisterlocks have numerous culprits:
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| Hair Loss |
Hormonal Change: I had my sisterlocks installed four months after giving birth and one of the post-pardum side effects is hair loss due to hormonal changes. My hair started to thicken back up but alas shortly there-after I became pregant again and did not help with the thinning.
Traction Alopecia: I have a tiny bald spot that I have had for years after getting a set of braids too tight, which compromised the hair follicles in that area.
I will be trying a number of things inclusive of supplements, herbal concoctions, diet and scalp massage. A common remedy for alopecia is steroid injection. I love my sisterlocks but I don't feel steroids is an option because it just seem so intense for hair. I love my hair but I believe in a balanced and natural lifestyle more.
My sisterlocks are almost 5 years old. I think I have a spot too. I keep looking at it and trying not to believe it's a spot. I wonder can it be from the re-tightenings? Seems like from years of pulling locs through it can happen.
ReplyDeleteYou recently had a baby so that also can contribute to your thinning or spot. People who are lock will notice thinning easily vs. when our hair is loose. I hope your spot doesn't get any bigger than what it is now. Good luck :).
ReplyDeleteI would suggest seeing a dermatologist if you haven't done so already. It is likely that it can be treated successfully. Also, have your medical doctor check your thyroid levels, serum ferritin levels (not just iron), and vitamin levels. In the meantime do not retighten all the way down to the scalp as traction can aggravate an underlying condition.
ReplyDeletePlease keep us posted on the health of your hair, and what the dermatologist says. I too suspect that retightenings maybe the cause of many sisterlockers losing hair and balding.
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear about ur thinning spot...however, as a licensed cosmetologist who has had serviced clients with alopecia, it does not look or sound like this is your issue,or at least not alopecia areata which is the type of alopecia that has a medical origin. I'm wondering if you have stress breakage. My little sisters hair would break all over her head leaving her with only patches of hair remaining and it was stress induced. However, I would still see a dermatologists. Also very true about the baby loss. She should not have locked you 4 mo following. It can take up to 2 whole years for our hair to return to normal after birth, especially if we don't continue prenatal vitamins and eat right. Your locks look great though, hope you find the cause.
ReplyDelete@Kreyola Thanks for the insight.
ReplyDelete@Patricia Thank you so very much for your comment! It is so helpful! I do wish I would have waited. Seeing as I had two children back to back it maybe sometime before my hair returns to what is normal for it. Some woman have told me that they have struggled with growing back hair after post natal hair-loss for years though.
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