Your ethnicity could determine hair care issues and hair loss
Hair loss can happen to anyone, at any time. It affects both genders, all ethnicities, and all ages. But the triggers for the condition can differ depending on your ethnicity and the culture you hail from. According to Nanette Silverberg, M.D. Clinical Director of Dermatology at Icahn School of Medicine in New York, both children and adults with darker skins have different concerns to Caucasians when it comes to hair issues.
For instance, children of colour are more likely to suffer from dermatological conditions such as seborrheic dermatitis and atopic dermatitis. These conditions, especially the latter, has symptoms of redness flaking and hypopigmentation related to the scalp.
As children get older (even before their teens) hair styling can cause concerns. From an early age children from an African, Caribbean or West Indian background may wish to wear their hair in the traditional and fashionable styles in line with their cultures. This includes arranging hair into dreadlocks, cornrows, braiding, and pony tails. The knock-on effect from this, is more tension is placed on the follicles when the individual styles are kept in all day. This is called Traction alopecia and leads to damaged hair and hair loss.
Another fashionable and popular hair care styling product is pomade. This is a greasy, waxy substance which is used to style the hair. It remains in the hair a long time and on average takes 10 washes to remove. This can block the hair follicles, result in folliculitis and ultimately lead to scarring and hair loss.
Tinea capititis
Another condition peculiar to children of colour is tinea capititis. Dr Silverberg commented to the Dermatology times “Tinea capitis is a dermatophyte infection of the scalp and hair structure. It goes down to a certain point in the hair where keratin starts to be produced and that’s called Adamson’s Fringe. When we see an infection, we’re not able to treat it with topical agents. It’s very contagious in the classroom setting and households, particularly when kids are sharing products, like combs or brushes.”
Vitiligo
Vitiligo is seen in both children and adults. This autoimmune condition occurs across all ethnicities but tends to appear differently in people of colour. It is more likely to begin in younger people and, Dr Silverman believes, if it is not dealt with early enough it can affect how children feel about themselves.
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