Children Hair Loss

Children’s Tinea Capitis

Tinea Capitis is an illness caused by fungal infection of the skin of the scalp, eyebrows and eyelashes, with a tendency for attacking hair shafts and follicles. It is also called “ringworm of the scalp“. The condition is caused by a fungus that occupies the hair shaft and causes the hairs to break. The naked patch of hair loss is often round and the scalp takes on a black-dotted stubble appearing from hair shafts broken off at the surface. There may also be moderate itching and scaling. The condition is transmitted by contact from one infected child to another through the sharing of combs, brushes, hats, barrettes, pillows and bath towels. Minor bruising of the scalp sometimes provides an entry for the microscopic fungus. Children  10 years of age are more susceptible and boys are more so than girls. Ringworm of the scalp is not threatening. Without treatment, however, the hair fall can be extensive, and some children will develop a boggy, tender swelling of the scalp known as a kerion.

Children’s Alopecia Areata

Alopecia areata is another common form of patchy hair loss in children. The typical story is the sudden appearance of one or more totally bald areas in the scalp. The child with this condition loses hair in circular patches sometimes up to two inches in diameter. The hair at the lines of these patches is loose, but the peach-colored scalp looks and feels normal, without scaling or inflammation. There may be just a few patches of hair loss or a total absence of body hair. Alopecia Areata is not so dangerous, and children who have it are otherwise healthy. Why the hair shadings out from the roots is still a mystery. What is known is that the condition is not contagious, caused by foods, or the result of nervousness, hyperactive disorders, or psychological stress. In 20% of cases, another family member has been affected. Some patients with this condition will also develop a grid-like pitting of the nails. Fortunately, over 80% children with alopecia areata grow new hair within 12 months. Strangely, the new hair can temporarily be white, but eventually the hair returns to its natural color. This is a much higher resolution rate than is seen in adults with the same condition, so the news is satisfaying.

Children’s Traction Alopecia

Traction Alopecia, or physical damage to the hair, is another common cause of hair loss, particularly in girls. The human hair is quite fragile and does not respond well to the many physical and chemical invasions it has to brave in the name of beauty. Constant teasing, fluffing, combing, washing, curling, blow drying, hot combing, straightening and bleaching can do a number on the fragile hairs, causing them to fall out, especially around the hairline and along the front and sides. In adults, this is not as constant a problem, as the hair has grown in strength and quality over several years, but it can act a problem for our little companions who typically have much thinner, fairer and less dense hair. Styles that apply tension to the hair, such as tight ponytails, braiding, barrettes and permanent waving can also damage the hair. However, one should not estimate that hair loss in one’s child is due to pony tails that are too tight. If hair loss is noted, it is imperative that a physician evaluate the child and rule out other causes. Recommended treatment for children’s traction alopecia is to handle the hair gently, as little as possible, and use natural hair styles. The hair will usually return, but regrowth can be slow. Injured hair follicles do not heal quickly and often take 3 or more months before they are back to their growing phase.

Hair Loss Triggers

1) Thyroid Problems

The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland found at the front of the neck. It produces hormones that regulate many processes throughout the body. If the gland makes too much or too little thyroid hormone, the hair growth cycle can cause hesitate. But hair loss is rarely the only sign of a thyroid problem. Other symptoms consist weight gain or loss, sensitivity to cold or heat, and changes in heart rate.

2) Alopecia Areata
Alopecia areata causes hair to fall out in startling patches. The convict is the body’s own immune system, which mistakenly attacks healthy hair follicles. In most cases, the damage is not stable. The missing ground usually grow back in six months to a year. In rare cases, people may lose all of the hair on their scalp and body.

3) Ringworm
When ringworm affects the scalp, the fungus triggers a distinct pattern of hair loss — itchy, round bald patches. Bald fields can appear scaly and red. Ringworm of the scalp is treated with antifungal medication. The fungus is easily spread by direct contact, so family members should be checked for symptoms, too.

4) Childbirth
Some women may attention their hair seems fuller during pregnancy. That’s thanks to high levels of hormones that keep resting hairs from falling out as they normally would. But it doesn’t last forever. After childbirth, when hormone levels return to normal, those strands fall out quickly. This can mean a surprising amount of hair loss at one time. It may take up to two years for hair to return to normal.

5) The Pill
A little known side effect of birth control pills is the potential for hair loss. The hormones that crush ovulation can cause hair to thin in some women, particularly those with a family history of hair fall. Sometimes hair loss begins when you stop taking the pill. Other drugs linked to hair loss have blood thinners and medicines that treat high blood pressure, heart disease, arthritis, and depression.

6) Crash Diets
You can lose more than weight with a crash diet. People may notice hair fall 3-6 months after losing more than 15 pounds, but hair should regrow on its own with a healthy diet. Be prepared to shed some locks if your diet is very low in protein or too high in vitamin A.

7) Tight Hairstyles
It’s no myth: Wearing cornrows or tight ponytails may confuse the scalp and cause hair to fall out. The same is true of using tight rollers. Let your hair down, and it should grow back normally. Be aware that long-term use of these styles can cause scarring of the scalp and stable hair shading.

8) Cancer Treatment
Hair loss is an infamous side effect of two cancer treatments: chemo and radiation therapy. In their inquiry to kill cancer cells, both treatments can harm hair follicles, triggering dramatic hair loss. But the damage is almost always short-lived. Once the therapy is finished, hair usually grows back.

9) Extreme Stress
Extreme physical or emotional stress can cause a sudden shedding of one-half to three-quarters of the hair on your head. Examples include:
• Serious illness or major surgery
• Trauma involving blood loss
• Severe emotional trauma
The shedding may last six to eight months.

Hair Loss: Infectious Agents 2

Piedra

Piedra (trichomycosis nodularis) appears when the hair fibers are infected by a fungus. The visible indicator of a piedra infection is development of solid nodules on hair fibers. Indeed, “piedra” means stone for Spanish. The nodules are a concretion of hyphae and fruiting bodies of the fungus, known as an ascostroma, from which the fungal spores are released.

According to the color of the nodules formed on the hair fiber, there are two basic types of piedra: black piedra and white piedra. Black piedra is due to the fungus Piedraia hortae and is mostly found in tropical countries, while white piedra is due to Trichosporon beigelii and is found mostly in Europe and Southern parts of the United States.

Piedra infection may affect hairs of the scalp, body, and genital areas. Usually the infection is relatively friendly. In parts of Malaysia, the nodules of black piedra are considered attractive and traditionally women encourage its growth by sleeping with their hair buried in the soil. However, when the infection is severe the fungus weakens the hair fiber, making it easy to break off. This can result in a patchy, distributed hair loss.Treatment generally associates shaving off affected areas.

Demodex folliculorum

Some people believe Demodex folliculorum commits to hair loss and that removing it will enable hair regrowth. But the organism does not cause hair loss.

Demodex is a little worm-like creature that likes to live on skin and in hair follicles. It feeds on dead skin and oils, so it particularly likes to live in hair follicles.

Humans are born free of Demodex, but during childhood, through contact with others, the skin can become infected with it. For the most part, we never know they are there. They are benign, if nasty, little creatures. The most common problem with Demodex is that they may cause irritation, particularly in the eyelashes. If you have itchy eyelashes, Demodex may be the problem. However, this is as much as Demodex can do to you. It does not cause hair loss.