Children With Hair Loss

Hair loss, although more common in older men, can affect individuals of any age, including children. Child hair loss can stem from various causes, such as telogen effluvium and cancer treatments. If you are concerned about your child's hair loss, it is essential to seek advice from a doctor. In the meantime, here are some common causes to help you understand child hair loss better.

Telogen Effluvium Affecting Children with Hair Loss

Telogen effluvium is a fairly common cause of hair loss in children and can also occur in adults. This condition is typically triggered by sudden or extreme stress or illness. Factors such as high fevers, surgery under general anaesthetic, severe injury, certain prescribed medications, moving house, or the death of a loved one can all lead to telogen effluvium. Stress or illness can disrupt the hair growth cycle, resulting in shedding, hair loss, and even baldness. Although there is no treatment for telogen effluvium, hair usually grows back once the stressful situation has passed. Children may become more stressed when losing their hair, so consider a temporary solution in the meantime.

Ringworm of the Scalp

Also known as tinea capitis, ringworm of the scalp is a well-known cause of hair loss in children. Tinea capitis is a contagious fungal infection, often contracted from another child at school or nursery. The first signs include scaly patches on the head, with hairs breaking off at the surface of the skin. If your child is diagnosed with ringworm of the scalp, treatment typically involves an oral anti-fungal medication and/or an anti-fungal shampoo.

Alopecia Areata

Alopecia areata is a non-contagious condition thought to be caused by an imbalance in the body's immune system. It leads to hair loss in children, often presenting as round or oval patches of hair loss without scaling or broken hairs. These smooth patches can eventually spread across the entire scalp and even the body (alopecia totalis). Although there is no cure for alopecia, there are treatments available to help alleviate symptoms and encourage hair growth. However, these treatments do not always work, and hair loss can recur.

Cancer Treatments

While cancer itself does not cause hair loss in children, the treatments used, such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy, can lead to shedding and balding, known as anagen effluvium. With thousands of children diagnosed with cancer each year, this can be a very real and distressing problem. In most cases, hair will grow back once the treatment has stopped.

Conclusion

Hair loss in children can be challenging for them to understand, leading to feelings of isolation and embarrassment, even when hair regrowth occurs. Total Cover Plus understands that child hair loss is a delicate subject. Contact us to learn how we can help.