Every child is different and unique and as such, the guidelines for growth and development are meant to be guidelines and not written in stone. For example, some children are slower to grow hair than others. Some children even suffer from a condition that is most commonly thought about as an issue that only affects older people such as bald spots. Children with alopecia have not only a medical condition to deal with but also a social stigma about just how full a head of hair should be.
Definition
The Children's Alopecia Project defines alopecia areata is an autoimmune disease that causes hair loss. The immune system attacks the hair follicles as foreign particles and the hair on the scalp and other parts of the body falls out. Most often the hair falls out in small patches that are about the size of a quarter and round. Some children only have a few bare patches of alopecia but the hair loss can be extensive.
Causes
Science has not identified a singular cause for alopecia in children. There is a genetic component to the condition since one in five children who has alopecia has a family member with it as well. Families that have a history of hay fever, atopic eczema, asthma or another autoimmune disease are more likely to have incidences of alopecia. Viral illnesses may also be a contributing factor to alopecia but stress is not.
Diagnosis
The American College of Osteopathic Dermatologists states that doctors can often diagnose alopecia in children by looking at the scalp and eliminating other reasons for hair loss. There may be a tingling sensation that accompanies the hair loss and bald spots. If hair can be pulled out, alopecia is active and more hair loss is expected. A skin biopsy with microscopic examination may be done to confirm the alopecia diagnosis.
Reactions
For younger children, those under five years of age, there is normally very little reaction and impact to alopecia. This is due in part to the toddler being engaged in discovering the larger world and not worrying about appearance or dress. Other children this age are also less likely to notice a hair growth difference. Children six to 12 years of age are more likely to notice visible differences in appearance. This age group is also more in tune with caring about what others think and feel. During this stage, children with alopecia may have adjustment issues in social settings, suffer from jokes about the hair loss and have a larger desire to fit in.
Treatment
Treatment for alopecia is used to promote hair growth but do not prevent new bald patches. Corticosteroids help repress the immune system from attacking the hair follicles. They can be given in injections right on the hairless patches and can take up to four weeks for growth to be seen, as an oral supplement or a topical cream applied to the bald patches. Minoxidil is a topical solution to promote hair growth that may take 12 weeks for new growth. Photochemotherapy uses a light-sensitive drug taken topically or orally and exposure to an ultraviolet light source. Photochemotherapy must be done two to three times a week for four to six months as the relapse rate is high without continuous therapy.
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