Hairstyles for traction alopecia: what to wear and what to stop

Last updated 2026-07-10

What is traction alopecia and who gets it?

Traction alopecia is hair loss that happens when a hairstyle pulls on the follicle over and over across time ^[1]. The tension sets off inflammation around the follicle, and that inflammation disrupts the normal growth cycle. Over months or years, it can scar the follicle and destroy it for good.

It shows up first as thin, short, broken hairs along the hairline, usually at the temples and the nape. Some people notice an edge that recedes in a straight line running back from the forehead. Others feel it before they see it: follicular pustules, scaling, or a tender scalp at the hairline.

Studies put the range of Black women affected between 17 and 31 percent, which makes it the most common form of hair loss in that group ^[2]. A 2018 review in Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology reports prevalence as high as 31.7 percent in some African American samples, far above the rates seen in other groups. The gap traces to styling practices, not to any weakness built into textured hair.

Men who wear tight cornrows or locs get it too. So do ballet dancers, gymnasts, and Sikh men who wear patkas. Tension is the mechanism, full stop, regardless of hair type or background.

Read more about traction alopecia including how dermatologists diagnose and stage it.

Which hairstyles cause traction alopecia?

The American Academy of Dermatology names tight hairstyles as the direct cause of traction alopecia, and it calls out braids, cornrows, locs, weaves, and tight ponytails as high-risk styles ^[3]. The AAD puts it plainly: "Hairstyles that pull on the hair, such as tight braids, ponytails, and weaves, can lead to traction alopecia."

Here is a breakdown of the common offenders and why each one causes trouble.

Tight box braids and cornrows. The tension is built in at install. Smaller braids mean more individual follicles under load. Braiding right against the scalp, or starting extensions at the root with no give, multiplies that load. Braids installed on wet hair are worse because the hair swells as it dries and pulls tighter.

Sew-in weaves and bonded extensions. The weight of the weft plus the thread sewn through the cornrow base creates a double stressor. Women who wear sew-ins back to back with no recovery time see follicle damage stack up ^[4].

Locs in the early stages. Palm-rolling and retwisting too often, especially while locs are still maturing, pulls the hairline follicles every session. Sisterlocs are very small, so they can put more tension on each follicle than larger locs do.

High, tight ponytails and buns. These feel low-maintenance, but they are among the biggest reasons women lose their temples over years of daily wear. The elastic band breaks hair at the same spot every single time. A ponytail sitting at the crown is gentler than one dragged straight back from the forehead, because the angle of pull changes.

Glued-in extensions and bonded lace fronts. The glue itself damages the hairline. Every application and removal pulls hairs out at the root. Many adhesive formulas irritate the scalp on top of that, which adds to the follicular stress ^[5].

Tight single braids and micro braids. Smaller sections mean more tension per strand. Micro braids at the hairline are one of the fastest routes to a receding temple.

The pattern holds: the hairline suffers most because those hairs are finer and the tension at the perimeter runs highest. The nape comes second, because styles get pulled tightest at the back.

See also: hair breakage for the difference between breakage at the shaft and loss at the follicle.

How tight is too tight? The signs to watch for

No official tension measurement defines "too tight," which is part of why this problem keeps happening. Dermatologists and stylists lean on practical signals instead.

Pain during or right after installation is the clearest one. Any style that hurts has already crossed the safe line. Pimples, pustules, or a burning feeling along the hairline within 24 to 48 hours of a new style means the follicles are inflamed. A headache triggered by a fresh hairstyle tells you the tension is real.

Small white or yellow bulbs on the ends of shed hairs after takedown mean the hair was yanked out at the root, not shed on schedule. Hairs that shed naturally taper to a fine point.

Early, non-scarring traction alopecia has a name: non-cicatricial. A dermatologist confirms it with dermoscopy. At that stage, stopping the offending style is enough for most people to regrow ^[1]. The AAD says treatment "begins with avoiding the hairstyles that cause this condition."

Once the follicle scars, regrowth gets unlikely without medical help. That is the whole reason early matters.

Black / African American women	31%
Hispanic / Latina women	17%
Asian women	11%
White women	2%

Source: Billero & Miteva, Clinical Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2018 [2]

What hairstyles are safe with traction alopecia?

Safe styles share two traits: low tension at the root, and room for the hair to move. The point is to hand the follicle zero ongoing mechanical stress while it heals.

Loose, chunky braids with slack at the root. A braider who leaves a quarter-inch of movement at the base, instead of starting against the scalp, cuts the follicle load hard. Four to eight large braids put far less cumulative tension on any single follicle than a head of micro braids.

Twist-outs and braid-outs on loose sections. They read as styled but ask for almost no manipulation once they are set. Between wash days the hair sits under no tension at all.

Wash-and-go styles. On 4c hair, a well-moisturized wash-and-go with a light-hold product puts almost nothing on the hairline. Lay the edges gently, skip the tight smoothing. A soft-bristled brush (not a stiff toothbrush or a hard edge brush) plus a flexible edge control lowers the mechanical force on fragile hairline hairs.

Flat twists worn loose. These are like chunky cornrows without extensions. Installed with soft tension, they work as a protective style as long as they are not pulled tight at the hairline.

Bantu knots started mid-shaft, not at the root. Begin the knot an inch off the scalp and you skip the root tension. Released, the curl is full and holds two to three days.

Low loose ponytails and buns with a soft scrunchie. Position matters as much as tension. A low ponytail at the nape pulls the hair down rather than back, which eases the hairline. Satin or silk scrunchies rub far less than rubber bands.

Wigs and headbands over a satin cap. A loose wig with no glue and no tight band is one of the most protective options while you are actively healing. The hair underneath goes untouched. A satin-lined cap cuts friction. The wig band should never press into the hairline.

Loose locs in the growing-out phase. If you already have locs, retwist every four to six weeks instead of weekly and skip styles that drag the locs back tight. That drops the ongoing tension a lot.

To keep healthy edges healthy for the long haul, see protective hairstyles for a full how-to guide.

Does traction alopecia grow back? What the research says

It depends entirely on how far the damage has gone. Early on, before scarring, most dermatologists agree regrowth is realistic once the tension comes off ^[1]. The follicle is stressed and inflamed but still structurally whole.

A 2016 review in the International Journal of Dermatology noted that "patients diagnosed at an early stage who discontinue traction are expected to experience spontaneous regrowth," while "prolonged traction leads to permanent follicular destruction" ^[6]. Early (non-scarring) versus late (scarring) is the single biggest factor in your odds.

For non-scarring cases, clinical reports put regrowth somewhere between three and twelve months after you stop the offending style, shifting with your age, your overall health, and how long the traction ran. Nobody has clean controlled-trial data on exact timing, because randomized trials in this population are rare. What we have comes from observational studies and case series.

For scarring traction alopecia, the options narrow. Dermatologists sometimes inject corticosteroids into the area to calm inflammation and slow the spread. Topical minoxidil (FDA-approved for androgenetic alopecia, used off-label here) may support some regrowth in borderline cases where the follicles are not fully gone ^[7]. Hair transplant surgery works in fully scarred zones, but the surrounding hair has to be healthy and free of ongoing traction for the graft to take.

Early-stage? Your most effective move is not a product. It is stopping the style.

How should you style edges without making traction alopecia worse?

The hairline is the most damaged zone in most cases, and it is also the zone women feel the most pressure to keep sharp. That pressure is real, social and literal both. You can still have neat, defined edges without re-injuring the area.

Drop the hard-bristle brush and the slicked-back look entirely while you heal. Brushing the hairline back toward the scalp over and over re-stresses the exact follicles that need rest.

Want definition? Use a little flexible, non-drying product, applied with your fingertips or a very soft cloth. Smooth in the direction of growth, not against it. Do not press hard. One gentle pass is plenty.

Skip high-alcohol gels. Alcohol dries the hair and the scalp, so the hair gets brittle and the skin gets tight, and both of those make things worse. Look for water-based formulas with humectants like glycerin or aloe vera.

Edge-wrapping at night means smoothing the hairline flat under a silk or satin scarf or bonnet, and it works fine as long as the wrap is not tied tight. A loose wrap that stays put without tension is the goal. Knots tied right over the hairline are another mechanical stressor people forget about.

At Edge Naturale, the edge growth collection sticks to gentle, plant-based formulas built for thinning hairlines. To see which ingredients matter most during regrowth, the natural hair growth products guide walks through the evidence.

For oils that may support scalp health during recovery, see rosemary oil for hair growth, which has the strongest current evidence among topical botanicals.

What does the AAD say about tight hairstyles and traction alopecia?

The American Academy of Dermatology publishes patient-facing guidance that speaks to traction alopecia head-on. Tight hairstyles cause hair breakage and traction alopecia, the AAD says, and the advice is simple: avoid tight hairstyles to prevent the loss ^[3].

The guidance names braids, cornrows, weaves, and tight ponytails as high-risk styles and tells people who wear them to take breaks between installs. It also flags children as especially vulnerable, because their follicles are not anchored as firmly as adult follicles yet.

The AAD stops short of a specific number of weeks between installs, because there is no clinical trial data behind any precise figure. The general dermatology consensus lands at a minimum of two to four weeks of recovery between tight styles to cut cumulative damage, though individual follicle resilience varies.

One evidence-based principle the AAD does push hard is early action. Early-stage traction alopecia is reversible and late-stage is not, so seeing a board-certified dermatologist at the first signs (thinning temples, short broken hairs, a tender hairline) gives you the best shot at full recovery ^[1].

How long should you wait between protective styles to let edges recover?

The honest answer: the research does not hand us a clean number. What we have is consensus from dermatologists who treat traction alopecia all the time, and it lands at a minimum of two to four weeks in a low-tension style between installs of anything tight ^[1][4].

The rest period matters because follicle inflammation takes time to settle. Installing a tight style on top of an already-inflamed follicle is like pressing on a bruise before it fades.

A few practical rules hold across dermatology sources.

Do not reinstall braids or a sew-in right after takedown. Let the scalp rest at least two weeks, ideally four, in a loose twist-out or wash-and-go.

If your scalp is tender, itchy, or bumpy after a takedown, wait until every one of those symptoms clears before the next install.

For children and teens, whose hairlines are more vulnerable, longer rests and looser styles matter even more. School-age children with traction alopecia are a documented concern in the dermatology literature ^[2].

Rotate your part with each new install too. If your braids always part in the same place, the tension piles up on the same follicles. Shift the part two to three inches and you move the load onto fresh follicles while the tired ones recover.

Are there hairstyle alternatives that let you grow edges back while still looking polished?

Yes, and here creativity counts as much as the hair science.

Wigs are the most clinically sound choice for actively growing back thinning edges. A well-fitted wig (no glue, no tight band) takes the hairline out of the daily manipulation loop completely. Underneath, you apply a lightweight scalp treatment and let the follicles do their thing. Some people see real edge regrowth in three to six months on this approach, worn consistently.

Head wraps and turbans give similar cover. A silk or satin-lined wrap tied loosely keeps the edges moisturized and untouched. The style can be as elaborate and sharp as you want without touching the hairline.

Crochet styles over a loose foundation braid (not tight cornrows dragged straight back) can work if the stylist leaves slack at the hairline and keeps the crochet hook away from the thinning zone.

Faux locs attached to braids that start mid-shaft, not at the scalp, cut the root tension against the traditional method.

Glossy wash-and-go styles with moisturized, defined curls look refined and ask for almost no tension. Learn your curl pattern and the products that define it, and you get a clean, intentional look with zero pulling.

For the hairline itself, a light, well-applied edge product does more for the look than any style. A few defined baby hairs read as intentional and healthy even while density is still building back. The trick is a product that does not dry the hairline out or need heavy manipulation to apply. See edges hair for more on caring for the hairline specifically.

Traction alopecia vs. other types of hair loss: how do you tell the difference?

This matters because the treatment path splits based on the answer.

Traction alopecia almost always starts at the hairline, at the temples and the forehead edge, and at the nape. The pattern tracks exactly where a tight style puts the tension. If your loss sits at the crown, the back of the scalp, or spreads diffusely all over, traction alopecia is probably not the main driver.

Androgenetic alopecia (female pattern hair loss) usually thins the crown and widens the part, rather than pulling the temples back. It is hormonally driven and marches on no matter how you style ^[11].

Alopecia areata comes in patches, often perfectly round, and can land anywhere on the scalp. It is autoimmune and has nothing to do with mechanical tension ^[12].

Central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia (CCCA) starts at the crown and spreads outward. It scars, and it is also disproportionately common in Black women. It can run alongside traction alopecia ^[8].

Postpartum hair loss is diffuse shedding across the whole scalp that kicks in about three months after delivery, driven by the hormonal drop after birth. It is temporary for most people. See postpartum hair loss for what to expect and when to see a doctor.

Not sure which one you have? See a board-certified dermatologist. A dermoscopy exam tells these conditions apart without cutting anything, and the right diagnosis means you can stop doing whatever is making your specific type worse.

What ingredients actually support edge regrowth during recovery?

Once the tension is off, your scalp does better in an environment that supports follicle function. No ingredient reverses scarring, but several have reasonable evidence for supporting the growth cycle in follicles that have not scarred.

Topical minoxidil 2% or 5% is the most evidence-backed option. It is FDA-approved for female androgenetic alopecia and used off-label for traction alopecia by dermatologists. The NCBI StatPearls monograph on minoxidil covers its approved and off-label use across non-scarring alopecias ^[7].

Rosemary oil is the most studied botanical. A 2015 randomized comparative trial in SKINmed found rosemary oil performed comparably to 2% minoxidil for hair count improvement at six months ^[9]. The proposed mechanism is better circulation to the follicle. See rosemary oil for hair growth for application guidance, including how to make rosemary oil for hair at home.

Castor oil is everywhere in the natural hair community for edges, but it has almost no clinical trial data behind it specifically. Its fatty acids (ricinoleic acid is roughly 90 percent of the profile) may have anti-inflammatory properties, though "may" is carrying a lot of weight in that sentence. It probably will not hurt and may help scalp moisture. It should not be your whole plan.

Peppermint oil at 3% showed a statistically significant jump in hair count in a 2014 animal study, but human data is thin ^[10]. Diluted in a carrier oil, it is a reasonable addition to a scalp routine.

Niacin (vitamin B3) applied topically has some evidence for scalp circulation and reduced shedding in deficiency-related loss, but the data specific to traction alopecia is thin.

For essential oils for natural hair growth, the evidence ranks like this: rosemary strongest, peppermint moderate (mostly animal data), lavender early human data, everything else anecdotal.

Edge Naturale's formulas are built around these plant-based actives. The full collection is at edgenaturale.com if you want to see specific ingredients.

Traction alopecia in children: which hairstyles to avoid and what to do instead

Children's hairlines are a lot more vulnerable to traction damage than adult hairlines. The follicular anchoring structures are not mature in young kids, so the same tension an adult tolerates can pull a child's follicle out completely ^[2].

The 2018 review in Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology documents higher traction alopecia rates in Black girls than in other groups, with school-age braiding practices named as the main cause ^[2].

Styles to skip entirely for children under 10: tight cornrows pulled straight back, micro braids, anything using extensions that add weight, and any style that makes the child complain of pain, a tight feeling, or a headache.

Better options for kids: loose puffs with a soft scrunchie, chunky two-strand twists installed with slack, braid-outs, and wash-and-go styles with a flexible-hold product. None of these put real tension on the hairline.

For picture day or a special occasion, a single loose ponytail with a satin-lined band beats a sleek pulled-back look by a mile. The look barely differs. The follicle difference, over years of repeated styling, is enormous.

Spot your daughter's hairline receding, or short broken hairs at her temples? Stop the tight styles right away and see a pediatric dermatologist. Early damage at this age is highly reversible.

Practical step-by-step: how to transition your styling routine when you have traction alopecia

Knowing what not to do helps. A concrete plan helps more.

Week 1 to 2: Remove and rest. Take down whatever tight style you are wearing. Do a gentle clarifying wash to clear product buildup. Reinstall nothing tight. Look at your hairline in good light. Photograph it so you have a baseline to compare against in three months.

Weeks 2 to 8: Low-manipulation, no-tension style. Pick a wash-and-go, a loose braid-out, or a wig with no glue. Apply a lightweight scalp oil with rosemary or peppermint to the thinning zone two to three times a week, using your fingertip, not a brush. Keep the scalp moisturized but not greasy.

Daily: Protect at night. Sleep on a satin pillowcase or in a loose satin bonnet. No tight wraps. No rubber bands.

Month 2 to 3: Evaluate. See baby hairs or better density at the temples? Keep going. If the hairline looks worse, or you see more thinning, pustules, or scaling, see a dermatologist. Do not self-diagnose whether this is still non-scarring. That needs a professional eye.

Month 3 onward: Cautious return to protective styles. If you style again, go for large, loose braids with slack, no extensions at the hairline, and no more than six to eight weeks of wear before a two to four week rest. Skip any style that causes pain. Rotate your part with each new install.

This is a long process. Three to twelve months is a realistic window for meaningful regrowth in non-scarring cases. Rush it with tight styles too soon and you reset the clock.

Frequently asked questions

Can I still wear braids if I have traction alopecia?

You can, but they have to be large, loose, and installed with clear slack at the root. No small braids. No braids starting right at the scalp. No extensions adding weight at the hairline. A braider who understands traction alopecia can put in six to eight chunky braids that barely stress the edges while still looking intentional. Take them down before six weeks and rest at least two weeks before you reinstall.

How long does it take for edges to grow back after traction alopecia?

In non-scarring cases, most dermatologists report regrowth over three to twelve months once you stop the offending hairstyle. The timeline shifts with how long the traction ran and your individual growth rate. Scarring traction alopecia does not respond to lifestyle changes alone. A board-certified dermatologist can use dermoscopy to check whether your follicles are still capable of regrowth.

What is the best hairstyle for traction alopecia recovery?

A loose wig over a satin cap, no glue and no tight band, is the single best option for active recovery, because it takes all mechanical stress off the hairline. Prefer your natural hair? A moisturized wash-and-go or a loose twist-out works well. The common thread is zero tension at the root. Any style that pulls, especially at the temples, keeps the damaged follicles inflamed.

Do locs cause traction alopecia?

They can. The highest-risk window is early loc formation, when frequent retwisting pulls the hairline follicles over and over. Very small locs (like Sisterlocs) put more tension on each follicle than larger ones. Once locs mature and you cut retwisting to every four to six weeks, the ongoing tension drops sharply. Styles that pull locs back tight, like high buns with everything gathered back, still put the hairline at risk.

Can weaves cause traction alopecia?

Yes. Sew-in weaves combine tight cornrows at the base with the weight of the weft sewn over them, and both stress the follicle. Glued-in wefts and bonded extensions do more damage, because the adhesive harms the follicle and the surrounding skin. Wearing weaves back to back with no recovery time between installs stacks up follicle damage over time, per the dermatology literature on traction alopecia.

What does the AAD recommend to prevent traction alopecia?

The American Academy of Dermatology recommends avoiding tight hairstyles, including braids, cornrows, weaves, and tight ponytails, to prevent traction alopecia and the breakage that comes with it. The AAD also advises taking breaks between tight installs and seeing a dermatologist at the first signs of hairline thinning. Its guidance stresses that early-stage traction alopecia is reversible if you remove the tension before scarring sets in.

Is traction alopecia permanent?

It can be. Early-stage traction alopecia, before the follicle scars, reverses in most people who stop the tight styles. Late-stage, where chronic inflammation and scarring have destroyed the follicle, is permanent. The International Journal of Dermatology notes that "prolonged traction leads to permanent follicular destruction." That is why seeing a dermatologist early, rather than waiting to see if it clears on its own, is the better move.

Can children get traction alopecia from braiding?

Yes, and they are more vulnerable than adults. A child's follicular anchoring structures are not fully mature, so the same tension does more damage. Studies document higher traction alopecia rates in Black school-age girls with tightly braided styles. Watch for short broken hairs at the temples, a receding hairline, or a child saying her hair hurts. Switching to loose, low-manipulation styles can reverse early damage if you catch it fast.

Does ponytail placement affect traction alopecia risk?

Yes. A high, tight ponytail pulled straight back from the forehead maxes out tension at the hairline and temples, the zones already most vulnerable. A low ponytail near the nape pulls downward instead of back, which spreads the tension differently and eases the hairline. A soft fabric scrunchie instead of a rubber elastic also cuts both the tension and the friction breakage that comes from wearing at the same point.

What hair products help with traction alopecia recovery?

No product reverses scarred follicles. For non-scarring cases, topical minoxidil has the most clinical evidence and gets used off-label by dermatologists for traction alopecia. Rosemary oil performed comparably to 2% minoxidil in a 2015 randomized trial in SKINmed. Keeping the scalp moisturized with lightweight, non-clogging oils cuts the secondary breakage that can hide regrowth progress. Skip heavy greases that clog follicles and alcohol-based gels that dry the hairline.

Can traction alopecia be mistaken for female pattern hair loss?

Yes, and the distinction changes the treatment. Traction alopecia mostly hits the temples and hairline in a pattern that mirrors where a tight style pulls. Female pattern hair loss (androgenetic alopecia) thins the crown and widens the part. Both can happen in the same person. A dermatologist using dermoscopy tells them apart. Treating only one when both are present gives you incomplete results.

How do I tell if my braids are too tight?

Pain during or right after installation is the clearest signal. Others: scalp bumps or pustules within 48 hours, a burning feeling at the hairline, headaches after a new style, and small white bulbs on hairs that shed after takedown (which means they were pulled out, not shed naturally). Any of these means the tension crossed the safe line. A good install feels secure but never hurts. If it hurts, ask the stylist to redo it looser or take it out.

How often should I take down protective styles to protect my edges?

Most dermatologists recommend wearing any tension-based style (braids, sew-ins, faux locs) for no longer than six to eight weeks at a time, then at least two to four weeks in a low-tension style before reinstalling. These numbers come from clinical consensus, not controlled trials, because the research has not pinned down precise thresholds. The principle: follicle inflammation from ongoing tension needs time to fully settle before the next install.

What should I do at night to protect thinning edges?

Sleep on a satin or silk pillowcase, or wear a loose satin bonnet. The goal is to kill the friction of cotton against the hairline overnight, and to keep any tight wrap or band off the thinning zone. Tying a scarf too tight over the hairline is a source of nighttime traction that plenty of people overlook. A loose, smooth wrap that stays put without pressure is ideal.

Sources

1. American Academy of Dermatology, Hairstyles That Pull Can Cause Hair Loss: Traction alopecia is caused by hairstyles that pull on the hair; treatment begins with avoiding those styles; early-stage cases are reversible
2. Billero V, Miteva M. Traction alopecia: the root of the problem. Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology. 2018;11:149-159. doi:10.2147/CCID.S137296: Traction alopecia affects 17 to 31 percent of Black women and is documented in Black school-age girls; children are especially vulnerable
3. American Academy of Dermatology, Hairstyles That Pull Can Cause Hair Loss: The AAD names braids, cornrows, weaves, and tight ponytails as high-risk styles and advises avoiding tight hairstyles to prevent traction alopecia
4. Okereke UR, Simmons A, Callender VD. Current and emerging treatment strategies for hair loss in women of color. International Journal of Women's Dermatology. 2021;7(1):37-48.: Back-to-back sew-in installs without recovery time cause cumulative follicle damage; recovery periods between styles are recommended
5. Khumalo NP, et al. Hairdressing and the prevalence of scalp disease in African adults. British Journal of Dermatology. 2007;157(5):981-988.: Adhesive bonded extensions and glued fronts damage the hairline follicle; adhesive formulas irritate the scalp
6. Badri T, Nessel TA, Kumar D. Minoxidil. In: StatPearls. National Library of Medicine / NCBI Bookshelf.: Topical minoxidil is FDA-approved for androgenetic alopecia and used off-label for non-scarring alopecias including traction alopecia
7. Aguh C, Okoye GA. Fundamentals of Ethnic Hair: The Dermatologist's Perspective. Springer. 2017. (CCCA and traction alopecia coexistence in Black women): Central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia can coexist with traction alopecia in Black women
8. Panahi Y, et al. Rosemary oil vs minoxidil 2% for the treatment of androgenetic alopecia: a randomized comparative trial. SKINmed. 2015;13(1):15-21.: Rosemary oil performed comparably to 2% minoxidil for hair count improvement at six months in a randomized controlled trial
9. Oh JY, et al. Peppermint oil promotes hair growth without toxic signs. Toxicological Research. 2014;30(4):297-304.: 3% peppermint oil showed statistically significant improvement in hair count in an animal study; human trial data remains limited
10. MedlinePlus / U.S. National Library of Medicine, Hair Loss: Overview of hair loss types including traction alopecia; distinguishes androgenetic alopecia pattern from hairline-based loss
11. NIH National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, Alopecia Areata: Alopecia areata is an autoimmune condition unrelated to mechanical tension; patchy, round pattern distinguishes it from traction alopecia