Hair loss in children
Hair loss or alopecia
is not only a problem for adults. Whether your child has thinning hair or
distinct bald patches, hair loss can be frightening. The good news is that with
proper diagnosis, most cases of hair loss can be successfully treated.
Medical causes of hair loss in children
Most children aged 26
months and older with hair loss are caused by one of the following conditions.
A pediatrician or pediatric dermatologist should be able to diagnose these
conditions and prescribe appropriate treatment.
Ringworm.
Ringworm of the scalp, is a fungal
infection commonly found in children. This can manifest itself in many ways,
but most often as scaly patches of hair loss on the scalp. The spots are
usually round or oval. The hair may be broken on the surface of the skin and
look like blackheads on the scalp.
If your child's
doctor suspects ringworm, a microscopic examination can confirm the diagnosis.
Treatment usually involves an oral antifungal drug such as griseofulvin taken by
mouth for eight weeks. Your child should also use an antifungal shampoo, such
as selenium sulfide or ketoconazole, to reduce fungal shedding.
Because ringworm is
contagious, your child must be careful not to share items that touch the head,
such as hats, pillowcases, hair clippers, or brushes.
Alopecia areata. Alopecia areata is a non-contagious hair loss condition
thought to be caused by the body's immune system attacking the hair follicles.
It is characterized by the sudden appearance of round or oval patches of hair
loss. The spots are smooth or smooth, without scales and broken hairs. About
25% of children also have pitted and ribbed nails.
Although there is no
cure for alopecia areata, treatment can control the condition in some children.
For many, hair grows back within a year, although regrowth is unpredictable and
many lose their hair again. In about 5% of children, the disease progresses to
total alopecia, that is, the loss of all hair on the head. Some of them will
develop universal alopecia - complete hair loss.
For young children,
treatment mainly consists of strong corticosteroid ointments or creams applied
to the bald patches. Teenagers who may be motivated enough to regrow their hair
can tolerate scalp steroid injections. Minoxidil (Rogaine) is often used in
addition to topical steroid treatments. You can also use anthralin applied to
the skin for a short time and then washed off. Hair growth may return in 8-12
weeks.
Trichotillomania. Trichotillomania is hair loss caused by a child pulling,
pulling, twisting, or rubbing the hair. Hair loss is uneven and characterized
by brittle hair of different lengths. The spots are usually seen on the side of
the child's dominant hand.
Trichotillomania can
be caused by stress or anxiety in your child's life at home, such as the loss
of a grandparent, the birth of a sibling, divorce, or stress at home or school.
If you notice that your child is pulling out his hair, scolding him probably
won't help. However, counseling to help your child deal with the source of
stress or anxiety that caused the habit can help stop it.
There is another
condition called traction alopecia, which occurs when the braids or ponytail
holders are too tight, causing hair to fall out along the hairline. It may show
inflamed follicles in the area of irritation. This can be treated with a
topical antibiotic ointment and loosening of the pigtails or ponytail.
Telogen effluvium. Telogen effluvium is a condition in which sudden or
severe stress, such as a very high fever, surgery under general anesthesia, the
death of a loved one, a serious injury, or taking certain prescription drugs,
interrupts the normal hair growth cycle. . Hair follicles stop growing
prematurely and enter a resting phase (called the telogen phase). Between six and
16 weeks later, the hair falls out excessively, resulting in partial or
complete baldness.
There are no
definitive tests to diagnose telogen effluvium; no treatment either. However,
after the stressful event has ended, full hair growth usually returns within
six months to a year.
Nutritional deficiency. Although less common, hair loss can be a symptom of
certain nutrient deficiencies, including:
- Vitamin H, or biotin, is one of the B-complex vitamins that help the body convert carbohydrates into glucose to feed the body.
- Zinc, an important mineral involved in many aspects of cellular metabolism. It also supports normal growth and development during pregnancy, childhood and adolescence.
In some cases, hair
loss can be a symptom of too much vitamin A.
With a healthy and
varied diet, most children do not develop nutritional deficiencies that lead to
hair loss. However, if you suspect a problem, talk to your child's doctor
before giving supplements.
Endocrine problems. In some children, hair loss is caused by
hypothyroidism, a condition in which the thyroid gland is underactive and does
not produce enough thyroid hormone to regulate metabolism.
Hypothyroidism is
diagnosed by a blood test. Treatment may include medications prescribed by an
endocrinologist to correct hormone deficiencies, but will depend on a number of
factors, including:
- Your child's age, overall health, and medical history
- Extent of the disease
- Your child's tolerance for specific medications, procedures, or therapies
- Expectations for the course of the disease
- Your opinion or preference
Non-medical causes of hair loss
While many causes of
hair loss require the attention of a doctor, others disappear on their own over
time. Among them.
- Hair loss in newborns. Many newborns lose their hair in the first few months
of life and baby hair is replaced with permanent hair.
- Friction. Between the ages of 3 and 6 months, many babies experience hair loss as a result of rubbing against the crib mattress or car seat. Once your child starts sitting, any hair loss should return.
- Hair abuse.
Vigorously brushing or pulling hair into a ponytail or tight braid can cause
hair to fall out. Gentle handling of the hair will allow it to grow back.
There are many reasons for hair loss in children. If you suspect a health problem or are worried about hair loss, it's important to call your child's pediatrician.