Warning: Wigs For Irish Dancing Can Cause Baldness

Photo Credit: Flikr User Irish Philadelphia Photo Essays

Over the last few weeks, there have been a few news items suggesting that Irish dancing wigs can cause baldness in girls who wear them.

In case you missed these items, you can check out Warning: wigs for Irish dancing can cause baldness from the Irish Independent. The article notes the following:

"...[Doctors] at St Vincent's Hospital in Dublin have warned that the elaborate wigs are in danger of leading to permanent alopecia in young girls, commonly known as hair loss.

Traction alopecia can occur after there is pulling of the hair follicle which can lead to scar tissue building up, and subsequently, permanent hair loss.

It can happen when people braid their hair too tightly, leading to the destruction of the follicle and its replacement with scar tissue.

The risk of this pressure on the scalp is exacerbated by repeatedly pinning wigs to fit tightly on the head during an activity like dancing."

So we have to ask ... Has this new information made you rethink your wig wearing? Would you consider going wigless, which @Feisonista suggests is an emerging trend in the Irish dance world? (See her blog "Emerging Trend: Going Wigless" in the Diddlyi Magazine here.)

Let us know what you think below in the comments section.

As always, we ask that comments be courteous and respectful of the community here on Diddlyi. Thank you!

Comment

You need to be a member of Diddlyi Irish Dance and Music to add comments!

Join Diddlyi Irish Dance and Music

Comment by Katherine Teske on January 18, 2012 at 4:09am: I love the wigs! If you're careful you shouldn't have to worry about that.

Comment by Clare Jeffcock on January 17, 2012 at 11:05pm: In my case... my teacher makes me do it!

Comment by Connemara Stone Company on January 17, 2012 at 11:04pm: Tell me Ladies. Why do you wear wigs anyway?

Comment by Jacque (Happy Feet) on November 23, 2011 at 5:27am: I could never not wear my wig :) I would were it every day if I could! As long as you set your hair up correctly so you dont damage it when you put it on your head then your hair is fine! :))))

Comment by Clare Jeffcock on October 22, 2011 at 7:41pm: I already have mild to moderate alopecia, so if there's any chance I can get away with no wig, I'm going to go natural even after hitting Novice. For me, there's no point in making a problem worse without a very good reason. Wigs are not a good reason to risk worse hair loss.

Comment by Rachel F. on October 21, 2011 at 3:22pm: deirdre is right ..... the point is to take better care of your scalp and properly attach your wig so that you don't do any permanent damage. the potential to do that damage is there but you just have to be aware of it. i don't wear a wig yet but i'll probably still wear one in the future keeping in mind that i need to wear it properly.

Comment by Deirdre F. on October 21, 2011 at 9:09am: If you don't put your hair up too tightly under the wig it won't be under so much stress so it won't break and give you bald spots. It's not like they are worn 24/7, or anything.

Comment by Thomas Beck on October 20, 2011 at 8:30pm: it only happened when the girls didnt put them in correctly and leave it on hours on end

Comment by Jasmine on October 20, 2011 at 12:52am: I would definetly go wigless! I personally think they are pointless! Also I have been wearing a wig alot over the past few months and even got bruises from my wig since my hair is naturally thin. Then I noticed I am losing more hair than usual! I'm only fifteen I hope its not a permanent thing!!

Comment by Eowyn on October 19, 2011 at 4:41pm: i think the title of the post its a little bit too much, i mean no one went bald so far. The problem aren't the wigs, the problem is: "It can happen when people braid their hair too tightly" (a tight ponytail could be a problem then) . I guess the best thing to do is let your hair rest and don't use the wig if you don't need to.