Hair loss in children

Hair loss treatment and hair transplants are normally associated with those of us that are more advanced in years. As we grow older, we keep an eye out for overt shedding and uneven hairlines in the same way we inspect ourselves for suspicious moles or stubborn wrinkles. When it comes to our children, however, we are often too preoccupied with scraped knees, lost teeth and fevers to notice if their locks are looking less than lush.

If you do notice that your child is experiencing a degree of hair loss there is no need to panic. Reasons for hair loss range from dietary deficiencies to radiation exposure and once you’ve found the cause it can easily be remedied. Here are some of the more serious causes of hair loss in children:

1. Tinea capitis: Commonly known as ‘ringworm’, this fungal infection is caused by fungi called dermatophytes. It commonly affects children and results in an itchy scalp and hair breakage. Tinea infections are highly contagious and children can catch it by coming in contact with an infected individual or by exchanging contaminated items such as brushes, caps or clothing. Take your child to your physician as soon as you notice the symptoms. Your doctor will perform a skin lesion biopsy to determine the nature of the fungal infection and prescribe anti-fungal medication to be taken orally. This treatment, if used in conjunction with a medicated shampoo should quickly sort out the hair loss problem.

2. Trichotillomania: Trichotillomania is an anxiety disorder that characterized by the persistent and excessive pulling of one's own hair, resulting in noticeable hair loss. This includes the pulling of eyelashes, eyebrows and pubic hair, but is generally confined to scalp hair. In children the condition is normally described as an impulse-control disorder (as opposed to an obsessive compulsive disorder) and can be treated by non-medical means such as diet and hypnotherapy. Cognitive behaviour therapy can also be helpful if it is found that the pulling is the result of stress.

3. Traction alopecia: Also known as ‘ballerina baldness’, Traction alopecia is localised hair loss caused by damage to the hairs' roots from constantly pulling hair too tight in the same direction. First noticed in the early 1900’s among women and girls in Greenland, the condition has also been noted among men of the Sikh clan who wear their hair in tight knots and African American individuals who wear their hair in tight braids called ‘cornrows’. If detected early enough, a simple change of hairstyle and shampoo should do the trick to stop the impending hair loss.

Other causes of hair loss in children include Telogen effluvium, congenital alopecia and scarring alopecia. If you should notice significant shedding or baldness in your child it would be wise to consult a physician before attempting any home remedies. Many of the conditions listed here can be treated easily if spotted early enough, without having to resort to expensive hair loss treatments or, eventually, hair transplants.