Usually, child alopecia( alopecia) passes very intensely. However, with a correctly diagnosed diagnosis, successful treatment is guaranteed.
By the way, diagnostics of pediatric alopecia can be well defined by pediatricians, although sometimes they need a consultation of a dermatologist.
Alopecia in newborns and infants
Many children have hair loss after birth.
The frontal and occipital region is affected by the lesion. This is due to frequent friction of the head against the surrounding objects( pillow, blanket, stroller).After all, it is during this period of his life that a child begins to actively turn his head, lying in a wheelchair or in a crib. In addition, the newborn at this time, under the hormonal effect, temporarily stops hair growth. This phenomenon should not be considered something very serious, it's just that the baby's hair ceases to grow, and the hair follicles themselves are not damaged.
In addition, one must know that during the first year of life, the entire hairline is fully restored and continues to function normally.
There are cases when the baby is born with no hair at all( although such cases are very rare). If treatment does not bring any positive results during the first two years of life, it means that a person is already unlikely to be able to restore his hair one day.
Causes of hair loss in children
One of the main reasons to call a trauma of the hair shaft( chemical or mechanical).
This may well be:
- too tight braid braids for girls;
- friction of the head( for example, if the child is in a stroller);
- chemical burns;
- trichotillomania.
Say a few words about trichotillomania.
This disease is characterized by the fact that the child constantly pulls, winds on the finger, twists his own hair.
The cause of this disease is the formation of a neurosis, which requires immediate elimination, since with time, scars that are unsuitable for hair growth will appear on the site of the torn hair.
Another common cause of hair loss in children can be called ringworm.
Ringworm is a fungal disease that affects the scalp, eyelashes and eyebrows.
In this disease, the infection affects follicles and hair shafts. The child's hair often breaks, and entire areas of the skin without hair( oval or round shape) appear on the head.
There are several other reasons that affect hair loss in children:
- infectious diseases( pneumonia, influenza, smallpox);
- burns and traumas on the scalp;
- is a local infection( appendicitis, dental diseases);
- dysfunction of the thyroid gland;
- nervous and psychological disorders;
- neuroendocrine disorders in the body;
- genetic predisposition.
Types of baldness in children
Pediatric alopecia can be atrophy and focal.
Focal alopecia is characterized by the appearance on the skin of the child of small oval areas without hair.
Atrophy alopecia( Brock's pseudopelade) is manifested by small darkened foci in the parietal and frontal parts.
Quite often these two foci can merge.
Skin in the affected area is atrophic, smooth, without crusts and scales. Hair growing around lesions is easily pulled out, expanding the affected area.
Focal( alimentary) alopecia in children can be presented in the form of lesions on the parietal and frontal zones, as well as eyelashes and eyebrows. If the disease is neglected, the foci begin to merge and form one large round bald head.
Treatment of hair loss in children
For treatment apply:
- injection of aloe or placenta extracts;
- ultraviolet irradiation;
- multivitamins.
If alopecia does not disappear before the age of two, then its further development can continue until the end of life, and will already require serious long-term treatment in a plastic surgery clinic.
Prevention of hair loss in children
In order to prevent hair loss, it is recommended that:
- wash your hair at least twice a week;
- often cut hair;
- girls do not do hairstyles with hair tension( pigtails);
- to conduct periodic examinations with medical specialists( ENT, therapist, dermatologist).
Hair loss can occur not only in adults, but also in children.
