Baldness, often known as hair loss, is typically considered a disorder that only affects adults. On the other hand, some youngsters also have hair loss, which can indicate that something more serious is going on. If a person has a hairstyle that tugs on their hair for an extended period, they risk losing their hair. Hair loss throughout adolescence can indicate that a person is ill or not getting the proper nutrition. Additionally, hair loss can be a side effect of certain medications and treatments, such as chemotherapy.
Hair Fundamentals
Keratin is the name of the type of protein that is found in hair. A single hair contains three parts:
- The hair shaft, the visible part
- The root, located underneath the skin
- The follicle
The follicle is where the hair root develops from within the scalp. You can find the hair bulb at the very bottom of the follicle. This is where the hair’s color pigment, known as melanin, is created.
The average person loses between 50 and 100 hairs from their scalp daily. These hairs will eventually fall out and be replaced by new ones, which will develop from the same follicle. This level of hair thinning is completely normal and should not give you any cause for concern at all. However, if the child loses more, there may be something wrong with the system.
What are the Root Causes of Hair Loss?
The following is a list of some of the possible causes of hair loss in youngsters:
Illnesses or medical problems: Conditions that affect the endocrine system (hormones), such as diabetes that is not under control or thyroid issues, can disrupt the creation of hair and lead to hair loss. Lupus patients may also have a loss of hair.
Medicines. There are situations when medical professionals prescribe medications with hair thinning as a potential adverse effect. Chemotherapy treatments used to treat cancer are undoubtedly the medicines that have the most widespread reputation for triggering hair loss. However, hair loss may also be an adverse effect of certain medications. A second potential cause of hair loss is the consumption of amphetamine-containing diet medications.
Alopecia areata is a skin disorder that can develop bald patches on the scalp and bald spots in other body parts. This particular form of alopecia affects around one person out of every fifty at some time in their lives. Researchers believe this disorder is an autoimmune condition and that the person’s immune system is responsible for the damage to hair follicles.
Alopecia areata typically begins on the scalp as one or more tiny circular bald patches. These may grow in size over time. In a few instances, the individual may have complete baldness. It can affect both males and females, and the onset of symptoms typically occurs in childhood. In most cases, the hair will grow back in a year; however, this is not always the case. People who have alopecia areata may experience recurrent hair loss at some point.
Trichotillomania: The psychological condition known as trichotillomania is characterized by the compulsive and repetitive pulling out of one’s hair, which can eventually lead to bald spots. This condition can result in patches of baldness and hairs of varying lengths that have been damaged.
Before they can quit pulling their hair out, those who suffer from trichotillomania typically require the assistance of a therapist or another mental health expert.
Treatments and styling for the hair. Damage to the hair, which results in the hair breaking off or falling out temporarily, can be caused by treatments that employ chemicals, such as coloring, bleaching, straightening, or perming the hair. The same thing can happen if you subject the child’s hair to an excessive amount of heat.
Traction alopecia: This is a type of hair loss that can be permanent and is caused by wearing the child’s hair in a manner that strains it too tightly. If the child wears a hairstyle that pulls on the hair for an extended period, she risks developing traction alopecia, which permanently damages the hair follicles.
If the styling of the hair causes pain while it is being done, ask the hairdresser to retouch it, so it does not cause the child any more discomfort. The presence of pain indicates excessive traction being applied to the hair.
Substandard nutrition: A possible factor in hair loss is an inadequate intake of nutritious meals. Some individuals who suffer from eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia experience hair loss for the following reasons: Hair development is stunted when the body is deficient in essential nutrients. Inadequate protein intake from sources other than meat has been linked to hair loss in certain youngsters who follow a vegetarian diet.
Interruption of the normal cycle of hair growth. Several life experiences have the potential to change the hair growth cycle momentarily. For instance, giving birth to a child, undergoing surgery, experiencing a traumatic event, being diagnosed with a significant illness, or getting a high fever can all temporarily cause a person to lose a significant amount of hair.
Because the hair on our heads takes months to grow, you may not notice a change in your child’s hair growth pattern until weeks or months after the triggering event. The body system can reverse this kind of hair loss on its own.
Androgenetic alopecia. Androgenetic alopecia is the most common reason why men and women in their adult years experience hair loss. This condition can also affect women and is referred to as female- or male-pattern baldness. This disorder is due to a confluence of factors, the most important of which are genes and a class of hormones known as androgens. This hair loss can begin as soon as the early teen years in certain people.
Conclusion
The use of oral antifungal medication is recommended for the treatment of mild to moderate cases of tinea capitis. If the assessment is unclear, the treatment is not working, or there is an indication of scarring alopecia, you should consider referring the child to a dermatologist.