Traction alopecia occurs due to several hair practices that exert tension on the hair, including:
- Regularly wearing tight hairstyles such as chignons, cornrows, dreadlocks, weaves, and braids.
- Using hair extensions.
- Applying chemical relaxers and rollers.
- The weight of excessively long hair.
It is commonly seen in African American females who wear tight braids, leading to hair loss on the temporal scalp. It can also occur in Sikh males who twist their uncut hair tightly on the scalp or beard. While traction alopecia can affect individuals of any ethnic background or age, its likelihood increases with age due to a prolonged history of these hair practices.
