Alopecia areata, often referred to as AA, can occur at any age but mostly affects children, according to the American Osteopathic College of Dermatology. This autoimmune disease leads to patchy hair loss on the scalp and body and can be traumatic, depending on the age of the child. While many children opt to wear bandannas or caps to camouflage their baldness, some treatment options are available that can help but not cure AA. Due to potential side effects, many doctors treat only children older than 18 months.
Steroid Creams
Topical steroid creams or ointments can be rubbed directly into the scalp, and because there is no pain associated with this option, many physicians use it as a first line of defense. According to the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, steroid creams are less effective than injections and work best when combined with other topical treatments, such as Minoxidil.
Minoxidil
The Food and Drug Administration approved Minoxidil cream, commercially marketed under the brand name Rogaine, to treat alopecia areata. The American Osteopathic College of Dermatology recommends minoxidil cream for "moderately extensive" cases. Applied twice a day to bald areas, new hair growth usually appears within three months. Minoxidil is often used in conjunction with other topical steroid creams.
Corticosteroid Injections
Doctors use corticosteroid injections to treat bald patches, often confusing the immune cells to allow hair growth. This treatment is not an option for children with large bald patches or full baldness, because of the discomfort associated with the injections and because of the steroid's serious side effects. According to the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, corticosteroids are injected directly into a child's hairless patches on a monthly basis. Injection side effects include pain, minor swelling and occasional skin pigmentation changes. A child's scalp may appear indented at the injection site, although this usually disappears once injections stop. Many doctors consider corticosteroid injections a back-up option for children, due to the pain associated with the injection.
