‘Unbeweavable’! – Has Naomi Haisrtyle Made Her Go Bald?

7th July 2010

It’s a common misconception that hair loss is a problem faced predominantly by men. We see a high number of women at the practice suffering from hair loss for a variety of reasons. One cause of hair loss in women that is on the increase is traction alopecia due to hair extensions; which would appear to be what Naomi Campbell is suffering from.

Whilst the British press were shocked by the photographs of Naomi showing visible bald spots last week, it is clear to me (and has been for some time) that she is suffering from traction alopecia, a condition caused by constant pulling or tension over a long period to the dermal papilla and hair follicle.

By wearing straight hair extensions over her naturally curly hair for many years, Naomi has most likely caused permanent damage to her natural follicles.

Despite the many risks, hair extensions continue to prove popular, thanks to celebrity fans such as Cheryl Cole, Lady Gaga and Katie Price.

Over time I have seen a growing number of young women come to me looking to reverse the damage caused by hair extensions with hair transplant surgery.

Hair transplant surgery may seem like an extreme solution, but in many cases it’s the only way to restore hair permanently. Even this method is only guaranteed as long as the person puts less stress on their hair in future.

The damage caused by hair extensions will, in most cases, correct itself once the user stops wearing them. However, there are cases where the damage is so severe it can resemble alopecia areata – similar to Naomi’s.

I can’t help but wonder: is the long term damage really worth the short term aesthetic?

Tags: alopecia areata, bald spots, hair extensions, hair loss, Hair Transplant Surgery, Naomi Campbell, Traction Alopecia