Hair loss or alopecia can occur in men, women and children, according to the Mayo Clinic. Even though the majority of children do not experience problems with thinning hair or hair loss, juvenile alopecia is far from rareo. The American Hair Loss Association or AHLA says an estimated 3 percent of pediatric doctor visits are because of hair loss. Children can lose hair for a number of reasons.
Alopecia Areata
Alopecia areata typically causes patchy hair loss on the scalp, reports the Mayo Clinic. In some cases hair loss can extend beyond the scalp to the eyelashes and eyebrows.
Approximately 1 out of every 1,000 children has alopecia areata, according to the AHLA. Alopecia areata can be an erratic condition that can come and go periodically throughout childhood. As of August 2010, no FDA-approved medications were available for alopecia areata.
Ringworm or Tinea Capitits
Tinea capitis or ringworm of the scalp is the leading cause of hair loss in children, according to the AHLA. Tinea capitis is an infection caused by a mold-type fungi known as dermatophytes, which flourishes in moist, warm areas. Poor hygiene habits can make a child more susceptible to tinea capitits, reports HairLossLibrary.com.
Symptoms of ringworm of the scalp include bald patchy, roundish scaly spots , redness, itching and inflammation. Oral anti-fungal medications such griseofulvin and itraconazole are often used to tinea capitits. The condition often goes away on its own during adolescence.
Telegen Effluvim
Telegen effluvium is a common cause of temporary hair loss in children that occurs abruptly after a serious illness or highly stressful event.
Telegen effluvium can cause excessive amounts of hair to come out while shampooing, brushing or by gently pulling on strands. The end result is typically an overall thinning of hair rather than bald spots. Hair gradually returns to normal once the stressful situation is over.
Traction Alopecia
Trauma to the hair, defined as traction alopecia, can occur when a child consistently wears hairstyles like ponytails and pigtails that are pulled too tightly. Continuously pulling on the hair places undue strain on the scalp and can lead to hair loss.
Traction alopecia can usually be treated by changing hairstyles. However, the loss can be permanent if the tight style has been worn for so long that the scalp and roots have suffered irreparable damage, notes the Mayo Clinic.
Chemotherapy
Children receiving chemotherapy drugs to treat cancer can experience hair loss that may include complete balding. Chemotherapy drugs that are designed to attack fast-growing cancer cells can mistakenly destroy hair cells since they are also fast-growing, note the AHLA.
Hair loss generally begins several weeks into chemotherapy treatment. Hair loss may be gradual at first until the hair eventually falls out in large amounts. Hair almost always grows back after treatment ends.
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