Hair loss in children accounts for 3% of pediatrician visits in the U.S. annually. Several conditions can cause kids to lose some or all of their hair.
Hair loss, medically defined as alopecia, can affect men, women and children, according to the Mayo Clinic. When hair loss strikes in childhood it can be especially shocking and upsetting.
Juvenile hair loss can be caused by fungal infections, trauma, stress, and hairstyles that pull too severely on the hair.
The most prevalent cause of hair loss in children is a fungal infection of the scalp known as tinea capitis, reports the American Hair Loss Association (AHLA). Tinea capitis, more commonly referred to as ringworm, can cause round or irregular shaped patchy bald spots and may result in red, scaly and irritated lesions on the scalp. Tinea infections are highly contagious and are often transmitted via hats, combs or clothing.
Tinea capitis most often strikes young children, but usually vanishes around puberty. In the meantime, anti-fungal medications taken orally can effectively treat ringworm of the scalp, according to the AHLA. They include terbinafine and itraconazole.
Alopecia Areata Can Appear Suddenly
A type of hair loss is children called alopecia areata, causes round or oval patches of hair loss that seem to appear overnight. The condition occurs when the body’s immune system sends out faulty signals that attack the hair follicles.
With alopecia areta, the scalp generally remains smooth, with little sign of inflammation or redness. An estimated one in 1,000 kids has alopecia areata. Complete baldness may occur in extreme cases. No treatment currently exists for this type of hair disorder.
Telogen Effluvium and Traction Alopecia
Telogen effluvium is a type of hair loss in children and adults that may occur in response to emotional or physical stress, reports the Mayo Clinic. Telogen effluvium sends hair roots into a premature resting phase. As a result, hairs that were in the process of growing, fall out.
High fever, rapid weight loss, a death in the family or surgery can all trigger telogen effluvium. Hair will usually grow back in time but it can take several months.
Traction alopecia or trauma is a type of hair loss caused by wearing ponytails, braids and similar hairstyles that can pull the hair too tightly. Hair usually returns to normal when you stop tugging on your hair. Continuous pulling can permanently damage the hair root, cautions the Mayo Clinic.
Sources:
American Hair Loss Association, "Hair Loss in Children"
