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Archive for the ‘children's hair loss’ Category

In a previous article, we looked at the two most common causes of hair loss in children, tinea capitis and alopecia areata. Although those are the most likely causes, they are not the only ones. Trauma and a condition called telogen effluvium can also cause hair loss in the young.

Trauma

Trauma to the hair shaft is often caused by traction, which is the result of tight braids and ponytails worn consistently. Trauma may also be caused by friction, such as when the head is constantly rubbing against a bed or wheelchair. Chemical burns are another form of trauma.

Trichotillomania is the habit of twirling and plucking the hair. It’s considered an obsessive-compulsive disorder, which is difficult to treat. It also causes trauma to the hair shaft.

If the actions that are causing trauma to the hair shaft can be eliminated, hair will usually re-grow.

Telogen effluvium

Hair follicles have long growth phases (two to six years), which are followed by brief transitional phases in which the follicle degenerates. Next, there is a resting phase (about three months) when the follicle is dormant. This is the final or telogen phase. After the telogen phase, the growth cycle starts all over. New hairs grow and push out old hair shafts.

At any given time, eighty to ninety percent of the follicles are in growth phase and five percent are in the transition phase. Ten to fifteen percent of follicles are in the telogen phase, which means 50-150 hairs are shed daily.

Children suffering from telogen effluvium have a hair growth cycle that is being interrupted, causing many or all hairs to be in the telogen (final or shedding) phase.

Telogen effluvium can be caused by high fevers, surgery under general anesthesia, an excess of vitamin A, severe stress or injuries, and use of certain prescription medications (such as accutane for acne).

While telogen effluvium is devastating and can be difficult to cope with, there’s light at the end of the tunnel. After whatever is causing the hair loss has passed or been eliminated, full and normal hair growth should begin again within six months to a year.

If your child is suffering with hair loss, don’t hesitate to seek medical attention and remember, contact The American Hair Loss Association before buying any product or service for the treatment of hair loss.

~Spencer Kobren

If you think hair loss in children is extremely rare, you’ll be surprised to learn it’s not that uncommon. Approximately three percent of all pediatric visits in the U.S. are related to children’s hair loss. Hair loss is difficult for most adults. When it comes to children, it’s heartbreaking.

The good news is that most children who suffer from hair loss can be successfully treated. The key is early and accurate diagnosis. That’s why it’s crucial to get pediatric advice from a medical professional as soon as hair loss is noticed.

There are a number of conditions that cause hair loss in children. Tinea capitis and alopecia areata are the most common.

Tinea capitis (ringworm of the scalp)

Tinea capitis is the single most common cause of hair loss in children and is brought on by a fungal infection. It causes patchy hair loss and broken hairs. Patches are usually round or oval but can take various shapes. Gray flakes may also be present.

It is treated with an oral antifungal medication taken for eight weeks along with Nizoral shampoo, which is used on the scalp 2-3 times per week. For treatment to succeed, this regimen must be followed precisely. Children using the treatment are not contagious.

Alopecia Areata

With alopecia areata, oval patches appear suddenly and they are completely bald and smooth. There is no inflammation, flaking, or broken hair. This condition affects one in a thousand children and twenty-five percent of these children will also have pitting and ridging of the nails.

Treatment is usually provided by a dermatologist and a large percentage of children will have all of their hair back within a year. None of the treatments currently available cure alopecia areata but they can help reverse the symptoms.

Other Conditions

Other conditions that may cause hair loss in children include trauma and telogen effluvium. These will be explored in a later article.

~Spencer Kobren

In a recent press release, top online hairpiece retailer CoolPiece.com shared its offer to provide free custom made wigs to children undergoing chemotherapy.

CoolPiece has been providing wigs to children for the past couple of years, making free wigs available to all children in the USA and Canada who are experiencing hair loss as a result of chemotherapy.

CoolPiece’s offer reads:

Children in Chemotherapy! We will make a FREE CoolPiece wig to your specifications. Contact us for details. (USA and Canada only).

CoolPiece owner, Jeffrey the Barak explains that “there have been remarkably few who have even expressed any interest, let alone taken CoolPiece up on this offer.”
Families struggling with an illness and a child who is being treated with chemotherapy often end up with low quality wigs and hairpieces, or nothing at all simply because they lack the time or energy needed to shop for high quality children’s hairpieces. Many families simply can not afford to purchase a natural looking hairpiece for their child. CoolPiece provides customized, high quality wigs to these families at no charge and makes it easy for them to order these custom hair pieces online.

Jeffrey explained that about twenty years ago, he was a volunteer working with children who had potentially terminal conditions. However, the experience was devastating and Jeffrey found that he was “not the kind of person who has the strength to be so directly involved.”

By providing wigs to children who are facing terminal illness, Jeffrey has found a way to help that he is more comfortable with. He explains that “somewhere out there is a child who is upset about their hair falling out and for them, having their hair back might be the one little thing that makes it all a bit easier to handle.”

Visit www.coolpiece.com for more information about this generous offer to children undergoing chemotherapy and to learn more about purchasing high quality custom men and women’s hairpieces at a fraction of the price of conventional hairpiece retailers.

CoolPiece is one of a handful of online and conventional hairpiece retailers recommended by The American Hair Loss Association.

Look for the American Hair Loss Association certification seal before purchasing any product or service to treat your hair loss.

Hair loss caused by physical injury can be as debilitating to some as the initial trauma itself. While uncommon, a severe blow to the head can cause what’s known as “Anagen Effluvium.” The loss of blood supply to the scalp as a direct result of injury can cause a dramatic shedding of hair that in some cases will not return.

Recently IAHRS Member and IAHRS Info Center Contributing Editor, Dr Jerry Cooley, responded to a question from the mother of a 17 year old girl who suffered with hair loss caused by a car accident.

Veiw Article: Hair Los Cause By Car Accident

A message from the Children’s Alopecia Project

September is Alopecia Awareness Month and the Children’s Alopecia Project is asking for your help. Some time in the month of September visit the below Firstgiving link and make the most generous contribution you can.

Our goal is to raise $100 a day everyday in the month of September. We can only do this with your help so after you contribute please email this to others in your email address book.

Help us raise awareness and funds so we can continue to help all children in need living with hair loss Alopecia.

http://www.firstgiving.com/cap4u