title: Approach to hair loss in women of color.
abstract: Hair loss in women of color represents a unique diagnostic challenge that requires a systematic approach. In women of color, clinical examination of the hair and scalp is most helpful when performed first and used to guide subsequent history-taking to arrive at a clinical assessment. The most common hair problems in women of color are hair breakage, traction alopecia, and central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia. A careful detailed clinical examination and history will guide the clinician to appropriate counseling and management. It is important to recognize that a patient may have more than one of these 3 diagnoses and each requires separate attention. Traction alopecia is completely preventable with appropriate education of the public and medical establishment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94115, USA.
authors.forename: Jennifer M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Fu
authors.forename: Vera H
authors.initials: VH
authors.lastname: Price
mesh_terms: D001741:Black or African American; D000505:Alopecia / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000628:therapy; D018859:Hair Follicle / Q000293:injuries; D006801:Humans; D010808:Physical Examination; D011312:Pressure