While hair loss or alopecia is a typically a concern for adults, children can also lose their hair occasionally. Alopecia in childhood or adolescence is generally temporary, according to Kids Health.org. A disease that attacks the hair follicles called alopecia areata and a fungal infection known as tinea capitis are two type of hair loss in children, reports the American Hair Loss Association or AHLA. Childhood hair loss can also be caused by trauma and stress.
Tinea Capitits
Tinea capitis or ringworm is a fungal infection of the scalp that harms the hair follicles in children. The first sign of tinea captitis is often tiny bumps on the head that typically leads to large oval or round bald patches, according to the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center or UPMC. Ringworm of the scalp can make hair brittle and cause it to break hair easily. Oral medications like itraconazole and terbinafine may successfully treat tineas capitits, reports the ALHA.
Alopecia Areata
Alopecia areata is a condition that causes the body's immune system to erroneously attack hair follicles, according to the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases or NIAMS. Alopecia areata seems to appear out of nowhere and causes hair to fall out in quarter-size round patches. Some children with alopecia areata may lose more hair than others but total baldness is rare. No U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved medication currently exists for this type of hair loss.Talk to your child's doctor about the best treatment options for alopecia areata.
Traction Alopecia
Traction alopecia occurs when the hair shaft is somehow traumatized, notes the AHLA. Common causes of traction alopecia in children include regularly wearing tightly bound pony-tails and braids.caused it. Hair loss due to trauma is usually resolved once the source of the distress, such as tightly fastened rubber bands or hair clips, is removed.
Trichotillomania
A psychological condition known as trichotillomania can traumatize the hair and lead to patchy hair loss, according to the AHLA. Trichotillomania is believed to be a type of obsessive-compulsive disorder that causes a child or adult to become fixated on plucking or twirling the hair. Trichotillomania can be challenging to treat. Once the condition is resolved, hair growth will return to normal.
Telegen Effluvim
Telogen effluvium is a common type of hair loss that results from life events that cause major stress such as surgery, serious injuries and the death of a loved one, notes Keep Kids Healthy.com. Telogen effluvium occurs when the normal hair growth cycle gets stuck in he teleogen or resting phase. Normal hair growth typically returns once the critical situation has passed.
