title: African american women, hair care, and health barriers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to elucidate the prevalence of hair loss among African American women; explore the psychosocial impact of hair grooming difficulties; and examine both perceptions related to physician encounters in this group and the relationship between hair grooming, physical activity, and weight maintenance.
  
  
  METHODS
  An anonymous retrospective and qualitative survey, the Hair Care Assessment Survey, is an 18-question novel survey instrument designed at the Henry Ford Hospital Department of Dermatology Multicultural Dermatology Center.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Hair Care Assessment Survey was distributed at church-related functions at predominantly African American metropolitan Detroit churches.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two hundred African American women from metropolitan Detroit, Michigan, aged 21 to 83.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Hair Care Assessment Survey collected data relating to hair loss and hair care, psychosocial experiences relating to hair loss, and hair care as it relates to exercise and body weight management. Data was collected on doctor-patient hair-related medical visits and experiences with commercially available ethnic hair care products.
  
  
  RESULTS
  More than 50 percent reported excessive hair loss. Twenty-eight percent had visited a physician to discuss hair issues, but only 32 percent felt their physician understood African American hair. Forty-five percent reported avoiding exercise because of hair concerns, and 22 percent felt that their hair impeded maintaining healthy body weight.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Hair loss affects a compelling number of African American women, and a significant number express dissatisfaction in hair-related physician encounters. Additionally, hair styling problems present a serious impediment to physical activity and weight management among this already high-risk population.
authors.affiliation: Multicultural Dermatology Center, Department of Dermatology, Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, Michigan; Department of Biostatistics and Research Epidemiology, Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, Michigan.
authors.forename: Raechele Cochran
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Gathers
authors.affiliation: Multicultural Dermatology Center, Department of Dermatology, Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, Michigan; Department of Biostatistics and Research Epidemiology, Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, Michigan.
authors.forename: Meredith Grace
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Mahan