Counseling about Traction Alopecia: A “Compliment, Discuss, and Suggest” Method

Abstract

Traction alopecia (TA) remains a common concern for Black women visiting a dermatologist. Understanding cultural hair care practices, timely diagnosis, and discontinuation of high-risk hairstyles are essential for preventing TA from progressing to scarring alopecia. This dialogue might be difficult for hair-discordant physicians and patients because of a lack of training and shared experiences. We present an empathetic and culturally sensitive method for discussing TA with patients.