Nocturnal Traction: Techniques Used for Hair Style Maintenance while Sleeping May Be a Risk Factor for Traction Alopecia

Scarring Alopecia

African hair shaft and pigmented scalp have unique features that challenge diagnosis in scarring alopecia. In addition, Black patients may associate 2 or more types of hair disorders. Therefore, it is imperative to understand their findings thoroughly to establish a good diagnosis. Differential diagnosis on the frontal scalp includes traction alopecia and frontal fibrosing alopecia. Disorders such as central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia, fibrosing alopecia in a pattern distribution, discoid lupus erythematosus, and lichen planopilaris usually affect the middle scalp. Folliculitis decalvans, dissecting cellulitis, and acne keloidalis nuchae are the main differential diagnosis of the posterior scalp.

Postpartum Telogen Effluvium Unmasking Traction Alopecia

<b><i>Introduction:</i></b> Telogen effluvium (TE) is a type of diffuse hair shedding that occurs 2–3 months after an exposure or trigger. The excessive hair loss may “unmask” underlying hair loss disorders such as female pattern hair loss. <b><i>Case Presentation:</i></b> This is a case series of 3 patients with postpartum TE in which an underlying traction alopecia (TA) was revealed. <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> TE can unmask underlying TA. Awareness of this phenomenon is critical to appropriate diagnosis and treatment.