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What Causes Hair Loss in Children?

Hair loss seems to affect every gender and every age group. Even children have suffered different types of hair loss. Hair loss in children can be especially hard for them to deal with, and parents should seek a doctor's help right away.   In children, hair loss is different than the hair loss problems faced by adults.

It is normal for most children to have most of their hair fall out when they are about two to three months in age. This is often upsetting to new parents who do not realize that new hair will grow in quickly. It is the soft and fine baby hair they were born with that falls out as they begin to grow more mature hair.

Loose anagen syndrome is another type of hair loss in children. This is when a child's hair pulls out very easily and painlessly. It happens more often with fair-haired children than in children with darker hair. Fortunately, this condition usually improves with age and the child ends up with normal hair.

Trichotillomania seems to be a less common type of hair loss in children. This compulsive hair pulling is difficult to confirm because people are so good at hiding their problem. It is hard to know how many children have this condition. This is thought to be a form of obsessive-compulsive behavior. Children pull out their own hair, eyelashes or other body hair. Most people with this disorder would like to stop it; they are unable to change their own behavior.  They tend to pull their hair when they are under stress or when they are relaxing or when they are going to sleep. It is not a mental disorder; the most effective treatment is a combination of behavior modification therapy and medication.

Tinea capitis is most common cause of hair loss in children. This is a form of ringworm and a fungal infection. With this type of hair loss, children usually have patches of broken off hair. The broken off hairs may look like black dots. Some children have noticeable gray flakes. Treatment is usually an oral anti-fungal medication and using a special shampoo.

Children can also lose hair when they have gone through an extremely stressful event, serious accident or illness. The stress of the event causes the hair to fall out. Usually the hair grows back in within six months to a year after the event. Children may also lose their hair due to cancer treatment, or chemotherapy drugs. Not all drugs cause hair loss.  When it does happen it is helpful for parents to find ways to help the child handle the trauma of hair loss in addition to the stress of being sick.

Hair loss occurs in every segment of the population and is usually important to the person it affects. The issues surrounding hair loss in children can be complex and quite serious. Parents need to seek medical attention as soon as possible.