Khloe Kardashian's Hair Hits The Headlines

The Kardashian family is rarely out of the headlines, but this week youngest sister Khloe became the focus of attention after apparently developing a bald spot on the side of her head. The 29 year old reality TV star was photographed arriving at her gym for a regular workout session where onlookers noted distinctly thinning hair and the appearance of a bald spot.

Assuming the hair loss is real and not the result of a timely gust of wind exposing her scalp, there are three possible causes.

1. Female pattern balding

Similar to the development of bald spots and receding hairlines commonly seen in hair loss in men, female pattern baldness is a progressive condition that causes a woman’s hair to fall out. Also known as Androgenic Alopecia, female pattern balding is caused by the conversion of the hormone testosterone into a second chemical called DHT. DHT then attacks the hair follicles in the scalp, causing them to shrink and eventually shed the attached hair. Over time the loss develops into distinct bald patches.

Being that female pattern baldness is a genetic condition and neither Khloe’s mother or father are showing similar signs, it seems unlikely that Androgenic Alopecia is the cause of the thinning hair.

2. Stress-related hair loss

Khloe is currently going through the process of divorcing her husband Lamar Odom, adding additional pressure to her already hectic lifestyle. This additional stress could be contributing to the thinning hair seen in the photographs.

Many hair loss experts believe that stress adds significantly to the development and effect of certain conditions such as Alopecia Areata. Extreme emotional trauma or stress has been shown to trigger Alopecia Areata, which manifests as the development of patchy hair loss.

Alopecia Areata is caused by a disruption to the natural hair growth cycle, so that an abnormally high number of hair follicles enter a resting stage simultaneously. The hair attached to these follicles then falls out, creating bald patches and a generally thinner hairline.

3. Traction Alopecia

As a committed user of hair extensions to provide length and volume to her own hair, Khloe may have unwittingly placed her hair at risk. Hair extensions place additional tension on the wearer’s hair, pulling the hair follicles in the scalp out of shape. When hair follicles are subjected to this extra tension for long periods, the follicles can become permanently deformed, preventing hair growth.

As the wearer’s own hair begins to fall out, the wearer may try to cover bald patches with additional extensions. This only serves to expand the bald patches as even more tension is applied to the surrounding hair.

The exact cause of Khloe’s hairloss is unknown it could be all or none of these suggestions. However she should seek professional advice immediately to identify the cause of the balding and begin hair loss treatments as required, thereby increasing the likelihood of regrowing the hair lost successfully.