title: Black women's hair: the main scalp dermatoses and aesthetic practices in women of African ethnicity.
abstract: Afro-ethnic hair is different from Caucasian and Asian hair and has unique features. Ethnic hair is more prone to certain conditions or diseases. Such diseases are not only related to the fragile inner structure of the hair, but also to the cultural habits of hairstyles that often exert traction forces upon the pilosebaceous follicle. Women with African hair subject their hair to chemical treatments such as hair straightening and relaxing, and thus modify the structure of their hair shaft, making it more susceptible to damage. For this reason, hair complaints are common among black women and represent a diagnostic challenge to the dermatologist, requiring a thorough clinical examination of the hair and scalp, and a detailed medical history of the patient. The purpose of this review is to warn of the potential side effects and sequelae related to hairstyles and hair treatments used by black women, and to highlight the major diseases that affect this ethnicity.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Dermatologia Prof. Rubem David Azulay, Santa Casa da Misericórdia do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, BR.
authors.forename: Aline
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tanus
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Dermatologia Prof. Rubem David Azulay, Santa Casa da Misericórdia do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, BR.
authors.forename: Camila Caberlon Cruz
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Dermatologia Prof. Rubem David Azulay, Santa Casa da Misericórdia do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, BR.
authors.forename: Delky Johanna Villarreal
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Villarreal
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Dermatologia Prof. Rubem David Azulay, Santa Casa da Misericórdia do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, BR.
authors.forename: Fernando Andres Vargas
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Sanchez
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Dermatologia Prof. Rubem David Azulay, Santa Casa da Misericórdia do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, BR.
authors.forename: Maria Fernanda Reis Gavazzoni
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Dias
mesh_terms: D000505:Alopecia / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D044383:Black People / Q000208:ethnology*; D003466:Cultural Characteristics; D005260:Female; D018859:Hair Follicle / Q000473:pathology; D006203:Hair Preparations / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D012536:Scalp Dermatoses / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D006203:Hair Preparations