As we mentioned in a prior hair replacement article, excessive hair loss and thinning in children (Alopecia) sometimes results in their parents consulting with a physician to see if they feel that replacement surgery is the right course of action. Children suffer both emotional and social consequences when they are suffering with Alopecia and a hair replacement procedure may be the only option to correct the condition.
There are a numerous options to pursue where this is concerned which makes the decision quite challenging at times. In order to understand Alopecia in children, you have to understand why their hair loss and thinning is happening and why replacement procedures may or may not be necessary. Here are the primary 6 reasons that Alopecia occurs in children:
- Alopecia Areata a mysterious condition that can range from smaller patches to complete hair loss
- Chemotherapy or radiation treatments (characteristic of temporary hair loss)
- Emotional stress, the flu, and high fevers (characteristic of temporary hair loss)
- Tinea capitis which is a very contagious and serious scalp fungal infection and is oftentimes referred to as scalp ringworm
- Traction Alopecia results from the continual pulling back of the hair in tight fashion which damages the root and causes the fall-out (i.e. braids, pigtails, etc.)
- Trichotillomania is a patchy form of hair loss that results from the person pulling their own hair out
No matter what the cause of Alopecia is, it may take years to recover from this and the emotional scars could last even longer. Fortunately, children oftentimes outgrow the condition within a year in 60% of the cases that were documented. But that leaves the other 40% whose parents have to consider the option of hair replacement. Normally, there are a number of growth cycles that hair goes through wherein new growth replaces that which fell out unless any of the above conditions are occurring.
Additionally, whenever your child’s normal hair growth cycle is interfered with, what was once a gradual loss or thinning of the hair will accelerate considerably, making the condition even more serious. As a parent, you should take immediate action the minute you notice this occurring due to the permanent emotional scarring that can result from the condition. The physician will eliminate any medical issues that could have caused Alopecia to start before making a recommendation on the hair replacement procedure to pursue.
Photo via Cuba Gallery
