Читать книгу Why Are Black Women Losing Their Hair - Barry Fletcher - Страница 11

FDS, or Hot Comb Alopecia, normally occurs in the cranium or crown area of the head and can be described as a permanent deterioration of the hair sheath. The hair sheath is located beneath the scalp's surface and is what prevents hair products and other bacteria from seeping into the hair follicle and damaging the root of the hair strand. When suffering from FDS, the orifices of the hair sheath are permanently obliterated and the root is left vulnerable to hair products and other foreign debris, which will infect and destroy the hair follicle. When affected with FDS, the scalp will have a nude, shiny finish and a few strands or patches of hair emerging from beneath its surface.

For years it was believed that there was a direct correlation between FDS and the use of the hot comb. In 1968, examinations were conducted on 51 black women who had this form of alopecia. The belief was that the hot oil used for pressing was seeping into the crown area of the head, traumatizing the scalp and ultimately killing the hair bulb or root. All 51 women were pressing their hair at the time of the study, so this theory existed for two decades. In 1991, new experiments were conducted by Dr. Leon C. Sperling, one of the most interested dermatologists in the study of ethnic hair. Dr. Sperling studied 10 black women with this form of alopecia, using both vertical and transverse sections of scalp biopsy specimens.

All of the patients tested said that the condition was slowly progressive and described itching, slight tenderness and unusual sensations similar to pins and needles in the alopecic region. All had used a variety of hair care products and styling techniques over the years. While some used the hot comb before or during the early years of their condition, many of them discontinued hot comb usage years before the onset of the problem. Others had never used a hot comb. Dr. Sperling has also indicated that he has white clients with problems that are virtually identical. Now, approximately 30 years after the article was written about Hot Comb Alopecia, we are finding that most black women are using relaxers, but are still experiencing FDS. After his study, Dr. Sperling concluded that there is no exclusive link to the use of the hot comb and this form of alopecia.

There is currently no known cure for FDS. The two treatments often used are topical steroids and oral antibiotics. They are not guaranteed to make your hair grow back, but they help control or condense the affected area and retard further hair loss.