Although the word "alopecia" is a medical term that generally refers to any type of hair loss, alopecia areata is the condition most often associated with alopecia in children. Alopecia areata is a hair loss disorder that occurs when a person's immune system attacks his hair follicles as if they were dangerous invaders. The condition affects around 4.5 million people in the United States, but it most often shows up in childhood, according to BabyCenter.com. Seeing patches of hair missing from your child's scalp might be disturbing, but rest assured that alopecia areata isn't harmful.
Causes
Although no one knows for sure what causes alopecia areata, genetics is a contributor: One in five people with alopecia areata have a family member with the condition, according to BabyCenter.com. Children in families with a history of other autoimmune diseases, hay fever, childhood diabetes and asthma are more likely to get the condition, and an outside factor such as a viral illness might trigger it, says BabyCenter.
Signs and Symptoms
Alopecia areata typically begins with at least one small, round bare patch on the scalp, but it also might affect any area that has hair, such as the eyebrows and eyelashes, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. Talk to your child's doctor if clumps of your child's hair are falling out and her bald patches are smooth with a few shorter, lighter hairs around the perimeter of the bare spots, says BabyCenter.com. In some cases, children with areata have tiny dents in their fingernails.
Treatment for Mild Alopecia
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration hasn't approved any treatments specifically for alopecia areata, but some off-label treatments might help the condition, according to the National Alopecia Areata Foundation. Treatment for mild, patchy alopecia areata includes cortisone injections into bare skin patches, a topical minoxidil solution applied twice a day, and tar-like cream or ointment called anthralin. Bear in mind that some dermatologists hesitate to approve these treatments on children under 18 months, according to BabyCenter.com.
Treatment for Extensive Alopecia
Extensive alopecia areata, which is scalp hair loss on more than 50 percent of the scalp, has fewer treatment options, according to the National Alopecia Areata Foundation. The main treatment options for extensive alopecia areata are cortisone pills and topical immunotherapy, which produces an allergic rash on the skin. Some people with extensive alopecia areata might consider using wigs since treatments are generally less effective for their condition.
Hair Regrowth
If your child has alopecia areata, chances are that his hair will regrow, but the hair also might fall back out, says the Children's Alopecia Project. The condition varies from person to person. For example, a child with mild hair loss might have hair loss that lasts years, but a child with severe hair loss might quickly grow all of his hair back. In some cases, the hair that regrows is lighter in color but will eventually return to its original color and texture, says the Children's Alopecia Project.
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