Assessing alopecia in muslim women: A review

Summary: Abstract Body: Alopecia is characterized by hair loss and poses unique challenges for hijab-wearing Muslim women. Our study explores the specific etiologies of hair loss in this population. A systematic review was conducted through PubMed using the search terms: “hijab”, “alopecia” and “hair loss”. Our search populated nine articles meeting the inclusion criteria. It is suggested that the hijab itself does not cause alopecia, but the manner it is worn may contribute. Approximately 82% of hijabi women reported experiencing alopecia but are less likely than non-hijabi women to seek medical attention with only 15.9% of them receiving a formal diagnosis. Approximately 65% of hijabi women regularly wear their hair in a bun, with 66.3% of them reporting subjecting significant tension to their hairline. Consequently, wearing the hijab is associated with an increased incidence of traction alopecia of 10.4% compared to 7.5% in women who do not. Similarly, hijabi women have an increased prevalence of telogen effluvium, and concurrent telogen effluvium with seborrheic dermatitis when compared to non-hijab wearing women (46.4% vs 32.5% and 88.1% vs 11.9% respectively). Many factors contribute may to these secondary manifestations, such as increased traction on the hair root from specific hairstyles, wearing hijab under caps (57.4% of women), and using occlusive hijab materials. Despite the high prevalence of alopecia among hijabi women, there is a notable gap in seeking medical care. The reason for this is unclear, however, a culturally sensitive approach with tailored preventive and therapeutic guidance may be of benefit to this population. Maryam Niazi¹, Nehaa Sohail², Ayaan Sohail³, Suzanne Alkul⁴ 1. Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, United States. 2. Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso, El Paso, TX, United States. 3. The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston John P and Katherine G McGovern Medical School, Houston, TX, United States. 4. Dermatology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States. Minoritized Populations and Health Disparities Research