Hair Care Can Pose Health Risks for Black Women

I'm so glad this doctor wrote this email! I'm an African-American woman with natural hair, and although I have great hygeine, like most other black women, wash my hair once every 1 - 2 weeks.

I recently found out I had Seborrheic Dermatitis and my doctor insisted I wash my hair every other day with harsh, chemical shampoo. I tried to explain as a black woman, I can't expose my hair to harsh treatments, and washing my hair several times a week would result in extreme dryness and would literally cause about 10 hours out of my week to properly condition and style my hair.

Anyway, my very nice, caucasian, female doctor simply thought I was nuts and offered no alternative. However I later visited a black dermatologist and her prescribed treatment was MUCH more realistic for a black woman, and it worked!

Linnea of MA 12:12AM November 18, 2012