What does traction alopecia mean in skin of colour?

Repeated tension from tight braids, extensions, loc styles, ponytails, wigs, or chemical and heat practices can irritate the scalp and stress the follicles. Early signs may include tenderness, stinging, crusting, broken hairs, a receding hairline, or thinning where the pull is strongest. In darker skin tones, inflammation may be harder to see as bright redness and may instead show as darker or lighter patches. Long-standing traction can damage follicles and leave smoother areas with reduced regrowth. Traction Alopecia is the name clinicians use for this pattern of hair loss.

Stop or loosen the style that causes pain, tightness, headache, or scalp bumps. Rotate styles, reduce added hair weight, avoid pulling edges, and give the scalp breaks between tension-based styles. Use gentle washing and avoid scratching or applying irritating products to sore skin. Take a clear baseline photograph for your own monitoring, but arrange a dermatology assessment if thinning continues. A clinician can distinguish traction from other causes of hair loss and discuss treatments suited to your scalp.

Book an assessment promptly for persistent tenderness, pus, crusting, bleeding, marked scaling, or hair loss that continues after tension is removed. Seek earlier care if the scalp becomes shiny and smooth, because this can indicate follicle damage. Sudden widespread shedding, eyebrow loss, or symptoms elsewhere on the body also deserve evaluation. Do not restart a painful hairstyle simply because the scalp looks calmer.

Does the pattern fit traction alopecia or another form of hair loss? Are there signs of scarring or inflammation? Which styling practices can I continue safely? What treatment and follow-up schedule would help assess regrowth?