What Is Causing Kim Kardashians Thinning Hair

Has the stress of the spotlight, not to mention her quickie marriage, finally gotten to Kim Kardashian? The reality star was recently photographed with what appears to be a thinning patch of hair.

From the photo, you can see the 31-year old has what appears to be a bald spot, a telling sign that she is likely suffering from a condition called traction alopecia. Kim, who is said to be a frequent user of hair extensions, now appears to be dealing with the consequences of the pulling, styling and abuse her follicles have suffered over the years.

Traction Alopecia is common among people who wear tight braids, those who use hair extensions over a long period of time, attach wigs or weaves with glue/clips/tape, or those who suffer from trichotillomania (hair-pulling disease), traction alopecia is a result of the chronic tension or pulling on the follicles causing irreparable damage.

The definitive cure is hair transplantation which permanently replaces the follicles into the bald skin. However, without a change in hair-care habits, the transplanted hair is also at risk. 

Kim Kardashian Pregnancy Dont Be Surprised by Telogen Effluvium

"Photo by PR Photos"

The celebrity press is buzzing with the news that Kim Kardashian, 32, and Kanye West, 35, are expecting their first baby. Its being said that Kim is three months pregnant, which would put the due date in the June/July timeframe. 

Since this is Kims first baby, she may be surprised by one common symptom in the immediate post-partum period: hair loss. This type of temporary, rapid shedding event is known as telogen effluvium and it frequently occurs in women after child birth. What causes it? During pregnancy, an increase in the hormone estrogen pumps up the normal hair growth cycle, resulting in more total strands and increased thickness in the hair as well. However, what goes up must come down, so once the baby is born, the body brings those hormone levels down again, to a more normal state, and, as a result, the womans scalp suddenly sheds a lot of hair at once.

This may or may not happen to Kim. (And, remember, its a common temporary symptom.) If it does, however, Im sure well all be reading about it on Twitter!