Pontefract, England, (UPI) -- An 8-year-old British girl whose hair fell out after it was braided tightly hasn't grown any of the hair back after more than a year.

Jodie Holdsworth’s parents said her hair began to fall out when she removed the braids four days after they were put in during a vacation in Greece.

“She was due to have her school photograph taken four days later so we thought it better to remove the braids," the girl's mother said. "The braids were just coming away from her scalp. When she went for a shower her hair literally just came sliding off her scalp.

"We were all in shock. She was left with a bald circle on top of her head.”

The rest of the girl's hair, including her eyebrows and eyelashes, followed soon after and none of the missing hair grew back.

Portsmouth University School of Pharmacy consultant trichologist Hugh Rushton said, “If hair braids are sufficiently tight, it can cause traction alopecia.
go

Never heard of traction alopecia... Once again I learned something new on UM.

Back in HS I had the long skater hair. Well my family and I went on a cruise to the Carribean. At one of the stops in Mexico this woman was following me around all over the place trying to convince me to let her braid my hair.

SOOO glad I didn't let her LOL

I've heard of that happening before when you get weaves. But, I've only heard of it happening in the area where the weave is. But what gets me is why did the rest of her hair fall out too? Sounds like a coincidence to me. Like the braids and the condition causing this to happen probably occurred simultaneously and aren't really connected after all. But, I've never had weave or braids in my hair so I really don't know much more than what I've heard from the girls who do.

That's terrifying!

Agreed Pandora,

it's most likely (99.9 sure) that it is coincidence. Considering according to the rest of the story her eyebrows and eyelashes also fell out. Hope that they are running tests to find out if there is another medical cause, missing nutrients or an environmental cause. Something in her bedding or toys may be causing it if no one else in the family shows similar traits.

Regards,
Mabon.

I had hair weaves 3 times my girlfriend was a hair stylist and needed models for a hair show my hair did not fall out.

Since the rest of her hair, including eyelashes and eyebrows, fell out also, not long after, I'm almost 100% sure there is a medical condition that they just haven't diagnosed yet. The braiding of the hair on her head probably speeded up the process of that hair falling out, but I bet it would have happened anyway, even if it hadn't been braided. I feel sorry for this little girl, and I hope they figure out what's wrong soon.

I'm going with something medical also...It could be her diet, iron deficiency or even a thyroid problem which hasn't been detected...Hopefully the mom will have her checked out...

knew a guy who when his back/neck was out of allignment, the hair on his hands/fingers would fall off
body's a wild machine

I feel sorry for the little girl

Sometimes braids that are too tight can cause the hair to come out, the same goes when some people have hair extensions done.

However, as some others have stated, it seems weird that her eyebrows and eyelashes fell out too, it must be a massive coincidence that it happened at the time the braids were being taken out.

Hopefully her hair will grow back in time, unfortunately alopecia can be a permanent thing

That poor girl.

thats exacty what i was thinking, i wonder if she was in contact with any radiation, could that possibly cause it?