Children affected by Alopecia Areata

Condition that can occur in any age or gender and it is associated with hair loss, that can be in the form of patches, in the first stage, or boldness on the entire head or even body, is called Alopecia Areata . Alopecia Areata Universalis is a form of the disease when the hair from all over the body is lost. It can be also known by the name “spot baldness”. It’s autoimmune disease, when the immune system of the body mistakenly attacks hair follicles, causing its decline.

Hair loss can be sometimes caused by other categories of autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, thyroid, ulcerative colitis, vitiligo, and allergic disorders. People, who have family members with the same condition, have more chance to be affected as well.

Children can also have it, although in many cases it’s not permanent, so the hair grows back. Hair loss in children is called telogen effluvium. It can be caused by emotional stress of a child, high fever, recent surgery, weight loss, or some other illness.

Alopecia Areata that happens to children and teenagers can occur because of the other reason too. Hair loss can be caused by bacterial infections and can mimic tinea capitis with scaling. It is often caused by the staph aureaus bacteria, instead of being caused by ringworm.

Traction alopecia can occur with kids who wear tight braids or ponytails and newborns. They rub their head against the crib that can result in losing their hair on the back of their heads. Infants and toddlers can have a habit of hair pulling and stroking, as well as thumb sucking, sucking of a pacifier, or rubbing a blanket. That habit usually stops around the age of two or three. You can either ignore this habit or keep your child’s hair cut short so it can’t pull it that much and try to kick that habit.

Trichotillomania is considered to be associated to obsessive-compulsive disorder and is a situation when a child or teen pulls the hair out compulsively, feels tension before pulling or when trying to resist pulling, and feels pleasure, gratification, or relief when pulling her hair out. Hair loss is noticeable with these children and they often need treatment from a child psychiatrist and/or child psychologist who specializes in trichotillomania, because it’s important to identify and eliminate the stressors causing the reaction of the body, in this case hair loss.

The good news is that around 50% of patients affected with this condition grow back the hair in one year. Only 10% have a more serious condition, when the hair follicles do not form the hair again. There are Alopecia Areata Treatments available, prescribed according to the condition of the patient. It’s important to inform yourself about the condition as much as you can in order to approach it in a calm matter. Here are few facts:
• Alopecia areata is not contagious
• Children affected are healthy in other aspects
• The conditions is not painful
People with this condition who learn to live with it can have completely normal lives, educate themselves, have friends and get married without any problems whatsoever.