Hair loss in children.Advice,tips and treatment options to cope with it

Hair loss in children,which can be an extremely devastating issue, is a matter of great concern for all of us parents as thinning hair in kids,infants or teenagers are on the rise today Currently,according to the American Hair loss Association approximately 3% of all pediatric office visits are due children's hair loss.

It is recommended that parents seek a pediatrician advice as soon as you notice that your dear ones start to lose even the smallest amount of hair. If proper diagnosis is provided at the right time then the hair loss can be successfully treated.

In fact there are many causes that are responsible for hair loss in children that you must be informed about..

Firstly alopecia areata,which happens in 1 per 1,000 is the appearance of round patches of hair loss. When this happens the advice of a dermatologist is recommended. If no proper treatment is dispensed then 5% of children suffering from alopecia areata may develop alopecia totalis which means going completely bald. This may worsen further and develop in alopecia universalis (the total loss of body hair).

One important point to note is that alopecia areata can affect any region of hair on your body and is easily diagnosed with a simple visual examination.

Up to now no effective treatment has been found to treat alopecia areata.There are many treatments options that are available. But you have to aware that these only help hair regrowth but not directly remedy the alopecia hair loss problem.

Secondly, fungal infections of the skin or scalp commonly known as Tinea capitis or ringworm of the scalp. This is an infection that affect hair shafts and follicles. In fact this is the common cause of hair loss in children. Tinea Capitis look like little black dots on the scalp and can be recognized by shining an ultraviolet rays on the affected areas specially in a dark room. Such an infection can be treated with Nizoral shampoo and oral medication,griseofulvin. For the treatment to be effective both the shampoo and medication must be taken for 8 weeks.

Thirdly trauma to the hair shaft can be another cause of hair loss in children. This may happen when tight braids and pony-tails are worn or by friction,i.e rubbing against something. As long as the hair trauma was not severe or chronic enough to cause scarring, the hair will re-grow when the trauma is stopped.

Fourthly Telogen effluvium can lead for partial or complete baldness. This is when the normal cycle of hair regrowth are halted and the hair follicle lies dormant instead of growing. This may due to high fever, surgery under general anesthesia,emotional stress,certain prescription medication such as accutane for acne. Telogen efflivium is not easily diagnosed. This can only be done by your experienced physician.

Apart from the above causes, hair loss in children can also be caused by cancer treatment. The use of chemotherapy (when some anticancer drugs have been made to kill fast-growing cancer cells) medications can lead to thinning of hair or hair loss.

Radiation to the head can also lead to hair loss. This will affects only parts of the head when such radiation is effected. Here are some tips worth noting when expect hair loss in your children following cancer treatment: