USA Africa Dialogue Series - New Medical Condition Among African Diaspora Women: Traction Alopecia

New Medical Condition Among African Diaspora Women: Traction Alopecia

by La Vonda R. Staples

http://lavondastaples.blogspot.com/

Since I have embarked on the study of Africans in America I've been
shocked on rare occasions. As Moms Mabley once said, "if you ever
catch folks acting nice they're probably just not feeling well." Very
little amazes me. I've recently been shocked to find out that there
is a new condition among African Diaspora women. It's called traction
alopecia and it is caused by the combined use of chemical relaxers and
braiding/weaves as the ONLY style of coiffure maintenance. In this
condition, women in their 20's are reporting to medical professionals
with patterns of baldness seen in much older adults and those
suffering from healthcare emergencies such as cancer. The condition
is permanent. It is not reversible.

The purveyors of this condition are Black American hairstylists who
have yet to demand national certifications in natural hair care. As
of yet, there is no national training school for the care of African
hair. There really is no standard in the FDA for the regulation of
products for African hair. Additionally, we have yet to see a
standard on age at time of application of relaxers etc. If it is
against the law to get a tattoo before the age of 18 surely there must
be an eye and skin test for the application of the caustic chemicals
involved in relaxing hair. Concurrently, there must also be a
standard for West African immigrants who engage in the styling of
hair. Again, persons who braid her are NOT required to obtain a
cosmetology license or education in skin conditions. They just open
up shop and start braiding.

I've developed a background in beauty standards and applications from
the gamut of the African Diaspora. From the black soap to the shea
to the neem oil, I have sat down, shut up and let those women teach me
their customs and cultures. More and more, the indigenous cultures
are supplanted by Eurocentric ideology of health and beauty.

How can a medical condition be produced in a mere decade? Ignorance.
Plain and simple. Traction alopecia is a condition of ignorance, low
self-esteem of gender and low racial awareness. Makes me crazy just
to think about it.

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