There are many causes of hair loss including, infection, scalp diseases, chemicals, trauma, medications and natural aging. In African American females, it is more commonly caused by trauma and chemicals.

Prior to the emergence of relaxers as the primary method of straightening hair, hot combing was the most common method.
The use of the straightening comb causes hair loss from the top of the head referred to as “hot comb alopecia.”

A similar type of hair loss has also been attributed to the use of relaxers. A military dermatologist in the 1980s coined the term “FDS” or follicular degeneration syndrome to describe this type of hair loss.

The mechanism of these two causes of hair loss is similar in that the entire hair follicle is destroyed. In hot comb alopecia it is commonly believed that the hot grease seeping into the pores causes permanent damage to the hair follicle. In follicular degeneration syndrome, relaxer seeping into the pores destroys the hair follicle, causing similar scarring and permanent damage.

Since the old method of straightening is no longer in use, let us devote our attention to relaxers as the primary cause of this problem.

Relaxers applied directly to the scalp, can penetrate deep enough to destroy hair follicles because these hairs are closer to the surface of the scalp. I estimate that it will take eight or more years of repeated relaxing to destroy enough hairs for it to become noticeable. Of course, the more often one gets a touch-up the earlier we may see this.

Although follicular degeneration syndrome is the most serious form of hair loss cause by chemicals, breakage is actually more common. Breakage can be caused by either relaxers or dyes and is more commonly caused by use of both. In breakage only the length is affected. With proper care the hair length can be restored.

Decreasing the frequency of touch-ups to eight or more weeks and getting the relaxer in and out of the hair as quickly as possible will help tremendously.

As a preventive measure,  I recommend the use of the DPL Hair Root Conditioner as a base and neutralizer during the relaxing process. I designed this product to chemically neutralize the relaxer that seeps into the pores and to neutralize the hair after the relaxing process while keeping the hair straight. The DPL Hair Root Conditioner forms an acidic barrier between the delicate hair follicle and the relaxer, thereby decreasing hair follicle scarring and preventing hair loss.

–Dr. Wesley Wilborn is an associate clinical professor of dermatology at Emory University.

Send this Article to a Friend
facebook