Can Hair Loss Affect Children?

Your hair may start falling out as you get older, so you might not be surprised. It can be a real shock to see your young child’s hair fall out. Children can lose hair, but the causes may differ from those of adult-onset baldness. A scalp disorder often causes children to lose their hair. Many causes aren’t dangerous or life-threatening. Children’s emotional well-being can be affected by hair loss. 

Can Hair Loss Affect Children?

Hair loss isn’t just a problem for adults but also in children. They are responsible for an estimated 3% of pediatric office visits in the U.S. Whether your child has thinning hair or distinct bald spots, the loss of hair can be frightening. The good news is that, with a proper diagnosis, most cases of this condition can be treated successfully. 

What Are Some Effects Of Hair Loss In Children?

There are many reasons children’s hair might fall out abnormally or excessively. The following conditions are the most common causes of hair loss in children:

• Tinea capitis. This is a type of ringworm that attacks the hair and causes scaly, ring-like lesions to form. It is a contagious fungal infection and is commonly spread among school-aged children. Tinea capitis can affect the hair of the scalp, eyebrows, and eyelashes. The area of hair loss is often flaky or scaly and contains hairs that appear to be broken off at the surface. 
• Alopecia areata. This is when patches of the child’s hair suddenly start falling out in a round or oval pattern. This hair loss occurs within a matter of a few days, and the bald patterns are smooth and not inflamed. Alopecia areata is thought to occur when a child’s immune system mistakenly attacks her hair follicles. 
• Telogen effluvium. This is a condition in which the hair life cycle is interrupted. Normally, about 10-15% of the hairs on your child’s head are in the telogen phase. But in telogen effluvium, many or all hairs are thrown into the telogen phase. After a few weeks or months, partial or complete baldness occurs. This condition tends to go away on its own, and a child’s hair usually grows back fully within six months to a year. 
• Hair shaft trauma. Physical stress to the hair, known as hair shaft trauma. Hair shaft trauma can result from the consistent pulling of the hair, excessive friction, or by chemical burns to the hair shaft. It can also in occur in children who have trichotillomania, a mental condition that causes people to obsessively pull out their hair. If your child’s doctor suspects hair shaft trauma, he will determine what action is causing it. Once the cause of hair shaft trauma is identified and stopped, hair will usually re-grow.

Is There A Cure For Hair Loss In Children?

If your hair loss results from medication, hormonal imbalances, thyroid disease, or diet, your provider will address the cause. Correcting the underlying problem is often all that’s needed to help stop the condition.

Most treatments are meant to help with hair loss. These treatments include:

• Hair transplant: During a hair transplant, your provider carefully removes strands of hair from an area of your scalp where the hair is thickest. 
• Platelet-rich plasma (PRP): After drawing your blood, your provider separates the plasma. PRP treatment can help slow loss of hair and encourage new hair growth.
• Medication: Over-the-counter medications you apply to your scalp are usually the first course of treatment for thinning hair. A prescription oral medication is approved only for men with male pattern baldness.

Recommended medication used for hair loss:

• Minoxidil and Aminexil Topical Solution – is an effective topical treatment and male pattern baldness. This is used by both men and women. It is also ideal for hair loss caused by hereditary. It works by firming the hair follicles. This acts as a hair growth enhancer. It prevents reduction and raises the growth of the hair follicle cycle.