Hair loss in children may arise due to numerous diseases. The American Hair Loss Association reports that 3 percent of pediatric office appointments are due to hair loss issues. When children experience hair loss it may be emotionally upsetting to the child and the parent. Hair typically grows back; however, sometimes the hair loss is permanent.
Alopecia Areata
Alopecia areata impacts children of all ages. With this autoimmune disorder the hair falls out leaving bare spots on the scalp. The patient may feel a pain in the areas of hair loss. In rare cases alopecia areata may cause all hair on the body and scalp to fall out. The cause of this disorder is not yet known. The hair loss of alopecia areata may occur in anyone, even children who are very healthy. With treatments such as cortisone shots, medicine applied to the scalp or an oral medication, typically the hair will grow back. The disease may recur on an ongoing basis.
Ringworm of the Scalp
Ringworm of the scalp (tinea capitis) is a contagious disease that occurs in children; it is the most frequent reason for hair loss in children. This disorder damages the hair follicles and creates scaly patches on the scalp and possible inflammation that causes pus to seep from the scalp, notes the American Academy of Dermatology. A child with this disorder may experience hair damage or hair loss. Tinea capitis is due to a fungal infection. It is treated with an anti-fungal drug such as griseofulvin. Ringworm on the scalp may spread easily among children in settings like daycare or school where kids are in close contact.
Telogen Effuvium
Telogen effluvium is another cause of hair loss in children. It may be caused by stress due to a loss in the family, an intense fever, surgery with general anesthesia or the drug Accutane. This disorder involves an interruption to the normal growing cycle of hair. The hair mostly moves into the resting stage (telogen) of the cycle; then some or all of the hair falls out in about 6 to 16 weeks. Typically once the stress passes the hair will grow back.
Trauma
When the hair shaft is stressed it may cause hair to fall out in children. This occurs due to wearing pony tails that pull against the hair shaft or by wearing a hat that rubs against the hair. If a child is bed bound due to illness, friction of the head against the bed sheets may also cause hair loss. Another trauma-related cause of hair loss in kids is trichotillomania. This involves children compulsively snatching out hairs or grabbing at the hair repeatedly which results in broken hair and stressed hair follicles. Typically hair lost due to trauma will grow back; however if the trauma caused scarring to the scalp the hair loss may be permanent.
Cancer Treatments
The chemotherapy and radiation used to treat pediatric cancer may cause a child to lose some of all of his hair. After the chemotherapy starts or within a few weeks of the second treatment, hair may start to fall out. While radiation may cause permanent hair loss, hair loss due to chemotherapy will typically grow back after the chemotherapy is done. The new hair may temporarily have a new texture or color.
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