Length, texture and volume of hair is often an object of speculation and talk. But, on the other side, such an indispensable and integral part of our body needs special care and maintenance. And it becomes a great deal of concern and trouble when one faces hair loss.

But when we think of hair loss sufferers, kids aren’t the first people that come to mind. Yet there are millions of children worldwide suffering from hair loss for one reason or another. About 3% of children lose hair, which leaves them with thinning hair or bald spots. This can be frightening for parents, but in most of these cases, hair loss may be treated successfully.
Keep in mind that hair loss in toddlers and young children, while not common, can be completely normal and are usually not harmful to a child’s overall well-being.

5 Top children’s hair loss causes and how to cure them

Children who encounter hair loss can come across serious embarrassment, causing stress for both the child and parents. Similar to adult`s, the causes of children’s hair loss are sometimes difficult to identify. If you are concerned about your child’s hair shedding, talk to your doctor and rest assured that it will usually solve itself over time. But for most concerned parents, of the following conditions is the cause.

Traction alopecia

Traction alopecia, or physical damage to the hair, is a common cause of hair loss, particularly in girls. Sometimes if pony tails or braids are made too tight then it causes friction with the scalp skin which in turn causes alopecia or severe hair loss in children.

Hence, it is strictly advised to handle the hair gently, to tie your child’s hair in a lighter ponytail and in a manner in which he/she is certainly most comfortable. The hair will usually return, but regrowth can be slow. Injured hair follicles do not heal quickly and often take 3-6 months before they are back to their growing phase.

Tinea capitis

Fungal infections like ringworm infection can cause severe hair loss in children. The usual symptoms of a fungal infection includes – red patchy skin in and around the scalp, large amount of flakes, itching, redness, etc. It is also commonly known as Tinea Capitis. Ringworm infections are quite contagious and an infected child must use separate things including pillows, etc. until he/she gets cured.

A fungal infection as such is usually diagnosed though a microscopic examination and the treatment usually takes administering anti-fungal medication orally for around 6 to 8 weeks. Selenium sulfide shampoo, such as Nizoral Anti Dandruff Shampoo used twice a week, has been shown to shorten the course of tinea capitis.

Alopecia areata

Another condition and cause for children’s hair loss is alopecia areata (alopecia means “hair loss,” areata means “in patches”). The cause behind this weird hair condition found in children is still unknown and is considered a real mystery. What is known is that it is not contagious, caused by foods, or the result of nervousness or psychological stress. In this condition, a sudden bald patch appears around the child’s head and most likely hair never grows back in that bald space. The children having this condition are otherwise healthy and are devoid of any other medical condition.

The treatment for this condition is quite natural and fortunately, over 80% children with alopecia areata grow new hair back within one or two years. This condition is also fairly common in adults and the good news is that the adults also grow back hair naturally.

Hair pulling

Trichotillomania is another type you can say of hair loss which is fairly common in children. This typical condition of hair loss in children is to our utter surprise is basically caused by the children themselves. Trichotillomania is primarily caused due to all those hasty pulling, twisting or plucking the hair which the children do for themselves and on their own. Though the condition of how it is said seems to be rather non-threatening, but this often leads to severe hair loss in children.

A child’s behavior is often responsible leading to trichotillomania. It is usually cause if the child is in deep sorrow, anxiety or any sort of stress. As a child, he or she is unable to handle or identify his/her nature of grief, sadness or stress which leads to bursts out their frustration by severely pulling or plucking their hair, ultimately leading to hair pulling.

The treatment often indicates towards treating or removing the main causing factor related to the anxiety, grief, anger or depression from the child’s life. Often, regular counselling along with their parents also helps.

Telogen effluvium

Telogen effluvium is a condition in which the hair life cycle is interrupted. It can occur for a number of reasons, including sudden or severe stress, high fever, surgery under general anesthesia, the death of a loved one, a severe injury, or the use of certain prescription medications. The hair follicles stop growing prematurely and enter a resting phase (called the telogen phase). After a few weeks or months, hair sheds excessively, leading to partial or complete baldness.

Final words

The above listed are some important hair loss problems in kids. As a parent, it’s your duty to provide your kids with enough hair safety so that they could not suffer hair loss.

Remember, hair loss in children is not caused from vitamin deficiencies (unless extreme malnutrition is present), poor scalp circulation, headbands, headphones, hats, or helmets. Non-surgical treatment strategies should always be taken care to solve this problem. Children’s hair loss treatments include cortisone injections, UVA light therapy combined with a topical photosensitizing medicine, and topical treatments such as Rogaine.

Hopefully, these tips are enough to help you. If you enjoyed this detailed article, we hope that you’ll share it with your family and friends on social media. If you have any questions or want to share your story, you are invited to leave a comment below.