Child bald patch

Many children with alopecia areata experience flares, or periods during which the hair falls out, followed by periods of regrowth.

Doctors have identified several subtypes of this disorder, and the pattern of hair loss varies from person to person. There is no cure for alopecia areata, but some treatments may help manage symptoms. There are no specific drugs available to treat alopecia areata, but doctors can prescribe off-label drugs that might help stop the body from attacking hair follicles.

Sometimes, light therapy may stimulate hair growth. In many cases, the hair begins to fall out again after a child stops treatment, so a child may need to continue treatment even after symptoms disappear. Children who twirl their hair may damage the hair follicles, causing the hair to fall out.

Some children pull their hair because of anxiety. Doctors call this trichotillomania. When the person stops pulling or twirling their hair, it should regrow.

Hair pulling is a type of anxiety or obsessive-compulsive disorder , so it is essential to treat the underlying cause. A child may benefit from therapy, emotional and social support, or medication.

Traction alopecia is a type of hair loss that happens when the scalp experiences long term tension or pulling, such as wearing very tight braids or ponytails for long periods. Some people also develop traction alopecia from poorly placed extensions.

This can happen due to getting cheap extensions or attaching extensions at home. The scalp may be itchy and red, with large bald or thinning spots. The hair loss usually concentrates on areas where there is the most pressure. For example, a hairstyle that places tension on the hair at the temples will cause more hair loss there.

Traction alopecia should go away on its own with a looser hairstyle, but it can take time for the hair to regrow. If a person with this type of hair loss develops a scalp infection, a doctor may recommend antibiotics. An injury to the scalp, such as a burn or significant blow to the head, may damage the hair follicles.

This can cause significant hair loss at the site of the injury. When the injury heals, the hair should regrow. Prompt treatment is essential because untreated scalp injuries can damage underlying structures and may even cause permanent hair loss.

Telogen effluvium is a form of temporary hair loss that occurs after a physical or emotional shock. Healthy hair grows on a predictable schedule. A hair may grow for 2—6 years. This is the anagen phase. This phase lasts 2—4 months before the hair falls out and new hair replaces it. Telogen effluvium happens when something causes more hairs than usual to enter and stay in the telogen phase. Often telogen effluvium remains untreated because people do not know they have it. There is no cure for alopecia areata, but doctors can prescribe medications that may help treat the disease.

Anthralin cream or ointment and topical minoxidil may be recommended for hair regrowth, according to the National Alopecia Areata Foundation 1. Doctors may also treat alopecia areata with cortisone injections to encourage new hair growth. Hair loss caused by ringworm will stop if your child uses prescription anti-fungal topical medications or oral anti-fungal medications.

Bald spots may be the result of trichotillomania, a disorder that compels children to pull out their own hair. Stressful situations can cause children to increase the behavior, resulting in embarrassment if friends notice the bald spots.

If your child suffers from trichotillomania, your doctor may suggest cognitive behavioral therapy or medication. What is Pediatric Alopecia? This condition is contagious. You may notice a sudden appearance of round or oval patches of hair loss that are smooth no scaling or broken hairs. Trichotillomania — This non-contagious form of hair loss is caused by a child pulling, plucking or otherwise removing his or her own hair.

You may notice patchy hair loss with broken hairs. This is frequently triggered by stress or anxiety. Telogen effluvium — This condition can be caused by extreme stress high fever, severe injury, surgery, death in the family, or reaction to some prescription medication that interrupts the normal hair growth cycle.

Nutritional deficiency — This is a less common cause in children, but a deficiency in biotin or zinc — or excess vitamin A in the body — can lead to hair loss. Endocrine problems — Hypothyroidism can occur in children and lead to hair loss.

This is a condition in which the thyroid is underactive and not producing enough hormones to regulate metabolism. Non-medical hair loss — There are some causes of hair loss that will resolve on their own. Many newborns lose hair during their first few months, and this is replaced with permanent hair. Babies can also get bald spots from friction with a crib mattress or car seat. And children of any age can have mild hair loss from pulling the hair too tightly into ponytails or braids or brushing it roughly.