Hair Loss in Children

by Sheron Hopkins

It is natural to shed 50 to 100 hairs every day.

The hair that is shed is always replaced by new growth. The condition becomes alarming when the shed hair becomes double the amount, and there are no new growths to take the place of the fallen hairs. This is usually a man’s problem and some women’s too. Hair loss in children is possible but uncommon.

In the United State millions of children suffer a degree of hair loss. Some may outgrow the condition, while some will continue to loss their hair. If you have a child who has this problem, there are conditions to check out.

Perhaps the child is over brushing his or her hair, using strong hair color, or is taking medication that is causing massive hair fall. Perhaps, the child is over drying his or her hair. There are several reasons for hair loss in children.

The usual culprit of hair loss in children is ringworm. This is a skin rash caused by a fungus. It appears as a red round spots on several parts of the body. The ringworms are labeled according the sites they are found. If the ringworm is on the feet, it is called tinea pedis or athlete’s foot; on the body, tinea corporis; on the groin, tinea crusis or jock itch. If it is on the scalp, it is called tinea capitis.

Tinea Capitis on the scalp will cause dandruff-like flakes. As the condition worsens, it may spread in different parts of the scalp, causing hair loss. The fungus causes the hair to break at the point at the scalp. Unless this is treated, the child will suffer from severe itch and scratching will cause more hair to fall off.

For fungal infections doctors prescribe medications. If the hair loss is not fungal related, doctors will study the hair under the microscope. This will help them detect the cause and decide the course of treatments. They inquire of there are medications presently taken, and recommend cessation of the dosages until it can be confirmed that these are not the reasons for the hair loss in children.

Another cause of hair in children is their penchant for pulling or twisting their hair. This is called trichotillomania. The habit is hard to break especially with children who are so addicted to pulling their hair. They find it difficult to break the habit.

Children will be checked for thyroid problems; this is also a common cause of hair loss in children. A diet correcting the thyroid problem will be recommended. Children who have had fevers or surgery will also have massive hair fall. Usually they grow back in time with proper diet, rest, and medication.

If there are round bald patches on the scalp, it is an indication that the body’s immune system is attacking the hair follicles. The condition, alopecia areata is not common in children and can be discounted as a cause for hair loss in children. This may be genetic in some families. Fortunately, hair grows back, unless there are serious underlying causes.

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