Curling rods can damage hair shaft

Hair shaft defects are common and at times can lead to severe hair loss.  Usually the clinical changes are subtle and are noticeable over a number of months or even years.   These changes include the mal-formation of the hair from the root or follicle, the texture of the hair (the way it feels), the diameter (size) and colour (light or dark). Varying degrees of hair shaft damage can be caused by minor trauma, like brushing, combing or removing tangles.  Using too much pressure, while applying chemical hair relaxers on the hair shaft to straighten it, or the incorrect use of curling rods can be damaging to the hair shaft.  In addition, there are defects that could be inherited or caused by major diseases.

During a trichologist consultation many factors are taken into consideration to ensure that the correct diagnosis and recommendations are made.  For this reason microscopic examinations are of major importance since some abnormalities of the hair shaft cannot be seen with the naked eye. Some abnormalities are caused by medical conditions.  These include hypothyroidism and other endocrine disorders (the endocrine system controls our hormones) as well as malnutrition, metabolism disorders and exposure to some types of drugs. When the hair and scalp are carefully examined so much is revealed that topical diseases can be easily distinguished from internal problems. When the hair shaft is fragile it fractures easily leading to obvious alopecia.  Here are the names of some hair shaft defects called Traverse Fractures:

•Trichorrhexis Nodosa
•Pili Tori
•Trichorrhexis Invaugiata

Trichorrhexis Nodosa is the most common.  It appears along the hair shaft as beaded swellings.  It is associated with the loss of cuticle (the outer layer of the hair shaft).  The basic cause is mechanical or chemical trauma, as discussed earlier, causing an inherent weakness of the hair shaft.  You can also acquire Trichorrhexis Nodosa from friction.  This is often seen on persons who engage in lots of head movements while asleep, particularly those who do not sleep with head ties….the hair becomes extremely brittle and breaks very easily.

Trichorrhexis Invaugiata, also called Bamboo hair is an expansion of the hair shaft in which a ball and socket joint is formed.  Multiple small nodules are seen spaced along the hair shaft at irregular intervals.  The hair is usually short and thin and friable.  Isolated lesions can occur sporadically from the trauma in the normal hair. Pili Tori can be identified when the affected hair is flattened and twisted usually through an angle.  Usually four or five twists are found at irregular intervals along an otherwise straight hair shaft.  The affected hair is also brittle, breaks easily and fails in its attempt to attain normal length. These are only three of the hair shaft defects that are seen by trichologists. Germaine Williams-Beckles is a qualified trichologist. If you have questions or concerns about you hair or scalp condition send queries to news@newsday.co.tt or call 625-6774.