Alopecia in toddlers involves abnormal hair loss that can range in severity. In many cases, alopecia in children can come and go. If your toddler has alopecia, you have certain treatment options available to you, but make sure to discuss any treatment options with your child's doctor before attempting them. Keep in mind that certain alopecia treatments used for adults may be unsafe for your toddler.
Identification
There are several types of alopecia, but the type that affects toddlers and other children is called alopecia areata, notes MayoClinic.com. This is an autoimmune disease that causes your child's hair to fall out and regrow many times. You may notice that your child has bald patches on his head and that the hair is easily broken or pulled out. You might also notice that your child has pitted or sandpaper-like toenails and fingernails, adds the University of Michigan Health System.
Causes
Alopecia areata happens when the body's immune system attacks hair follicles by mistake, explains the University of Michigan Health System. In many cases, alopecia areata may be a genetic or inherited condition that's triggered by an illness or environmental change. Because alopecia areata is considered a "non-scarring" form of hair loss, it doesn't lead to permanent hair loss from the loss of hair follicles, explains the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.
Risk Factors
Your child is at a higher risk for developing alopecia areata if there's a family history of the condition, or if she has another autoimmune disorder or thyroid disease, says MayoClinic.com. Stress and malnutrition can also increase your child's risks for alopecia, notes the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Although alopecia areata doesn't normally cause permanent hair loss, in some cases it can. Your toddler is at a higher risk for permanent hair loss due to her young age, especially if she experiences hair loss for longer than a year, states the University of Michigan Health System. Also, your child could have permanent hair loss if she has another autoimmune disorder, allergies, severe hair loss or symptoms affecting the toenails and fingernails.
Treatments
There is no cure for alopecia areata as of 2010, but several treatments can alleviate the condition. If you're concerned about your toddler's appearance, you can use hairstyling techniques to hide the hair loss. Depending on the severity of your child's hair loss, a physician may recommend scalp injections of corticosteroids once per month or an oral corticosteroid medication, notes the University of Maryland Medical Center. Another potential treatment for severe alopecia areata in children is contact immunotherapy, a process in which a powerful, irritating ointment is applied to the scalp weekly. Another treatment is psoralen with ultraviolet A, or PUVA, light therapy, which combines the medication psoralen and UVA light exposure.
Considerations
Keep in mind that several other medical conditions can involve hair loss in toddlers. Your child may lose patches of hair in a similar way as alopecia areata due to a fungal skin infection like scalp ringworm, according to the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Diabetes, lupus, chemotherapy, radiation therapy and certain medications can also cause hair loss in children. Other considerations if your toddler is experiencing hair loss include the psychological "hair-pulling disorder" called trichotillomania, severe stress and deficiencies of protein and iron, says MayoClinic.com.
