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.
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