All you want to know about Children’s Alopecia

Did you know that children face hair loss? Though not of a common occurrence but a close number of 2 million children suffers from hair loss also called Alopecia. It is of a major concern for a parent when their own child faces hair thinning or develops bald spots and further faces alopecia. But there the good news is that 60% of children who have Alopecia always outgrow this condition without any need of treatment.

Children's Alopecia

With Alopecia a complete restoration and reversal of hair is time consuming, the duration of time is about a year and sometimes more than that. However for many and mostly majority of children the issue will resolve on its own. But 40% of children are not as lucky as others. This is frustrating for parents and the child is usually affected for an overall appearance and can lead to a lot of embarrassment.

Children who suffer from hair loss should be taken to the general practitioner, pediatrician or pediatric dermatologist for the problem to be diagnosed and to take further treatments as prescribed.

Alopecia areata is an issue of hair loss that is caused by the body’s immune system that attacks hair follicles. The characteristics are of a sudden appearance of oval or round patches of hair loss on the scalp. These patches are smooth or slick without broken hair. Say about 25% of children with this condition face pitting and nail ridges.  

In younger children treatment consists of strong corticosteroid ointments or creams which can be applied to the bald areas. For teenagers steroid injections are injected onto the scalp. Minoxidil is also used in addition to regular steroid treatment.

Researchers don't know what causes alopecia areata, but genetics plays a role. One in five people with the disorder has a family member who has it, too. It's also more common in families with a history of asthma, hay fever, atopiceczema, childhood diabetes, or other autoimmune diseases.

It's possible that an outside factor, like a viral illness, may trigger the condition. While hair loss is often attributed to stress and nervous conditions, alopecia areata isn't caused by stress.

Causes for alopecia areata is still unknown, research is still going on. It is said that genetics play a huge role. Also one in five people with this disorder has a family member who has it.  It is observed that is common in families who have a history of asthma, hay fever, eczema which is atopic, diabetes since childhood or other auto immune diseases. There are few chances of outside factors like illness through viral infection can trigger this condition more. Though hair loss is usually related to stress and nervous conditions, alopecia areata is not caused by stress.

We always have to remember that hair loss in children is not because of vitamin deficiency, unless in cases of extreme malnutrition, usage of tight headbands, poor scalp circulation, wearing tight hats or exposure to extreme cold weather. The process of diagnosis is as simple as a test of evaluation and the risk factors of a visual examination of which the doctor will perform.