Causes of Hair Loss in Children
A common cause of hair loss in children is childhood cancer, which is a terrifying prospect to think about. Although cancer can surely cause hair loss in children, it is usually the result of cancer treatment procedures, such as chemotherapy, that causes hair to fall out, as opposed to the cancer itself.
Another cause of hair loss in children is Telogen effluvium, which usually occurs after a previous illness, usually something rather serious. But telogen effluvium can also occur as a result of severe stress.
Tinea capitis, or scalp ringworm, is another cause of hair loss in children, and is one of the more common causes. An itchy scalp and a red lesion are clear indicators of scalp ringworm.
Bacterial infections can also cause hair loss in children, and show similar symptoms as Tinea apitis, but instead of a ringworm cause, hair loss is usually caused by staph bacteria.
Another cause for hair loss in children is hair pulling, which is a common habit amongst toddlers, similar to sucking thumbs, or holding a safety blanket. This habit is usually abandoned by five years old. However, parents tend to disregard this cause and do not treat it seriously, but this habit should be discouraged. Try cutting your child’s hair short so that your child will not have the impulse to pull it.
, or alopecia officially, is a common symptom with children and is often a cause of many sleepless nights for the parents. However, in many cases, alopecia is a temporary occurrence, and often times the child’s hair will grow back. Hair loss occurs three to six months after the illness, and hair will continue to fall out well after the symptoms of the illness are gone. The hair falls out as a result of the hair follicles remaining dormant. After the “sleeping” hair falls out, normal hair will fill its place and will grow at a normal rate.