Hair loss in children can be extremely frightening and frustrating for parents, resulting in many panicked trips to the family doctor. But why does it happen?

As with hair loss in adults, are many potential causes for thinning hair and bald patches in children. The first and most common of these is Tinea Capitis or ringworm of the scalp.

Tinea Capitis is a fungal infection or dermatophytosis affecting the scalp. It often causes round or oval scaly patches of hair loss on the child’s head, where the hair breaks off at the surface leaving what looks like black dots in the skin.

Diagnosis

After inspecting the appearance of the child’s scalp, a doctor suspecting Tinea Capitis can use a microbial culture or Wood’s lamp test (using ultraviolet light to identify infected hairs) to confirm the diagnosis.

Treatment

Treatment generally involves the child taking an antifungal medicine for approximately eight weeks, whilst also using an anti-fungal shampoo two to three times a week.

Other information

Tinea Capitis is contagious, so you should ensure your child doesn’t share things like hats, hairbrushes or pillows with anyone else until the treatment is finished.

Read Part 2 of this guide for information about another cause of children’s hair loss, Alopecia Areata.

Hair loss in women can have a devastating effect, both psychologically and emotionally. The condition is more readily accepted in men as they get older but there is unfortunately a stigma attached to hair loss in women.

Why does hair loss happen?

There are many ways women who experiencing hair loss can manage the hair loss effectively, but it’s important to understand the underlying causes of the condition first. Contrary to some misinformed myths, hair loss in women is not caused by over-brushing or washing hair, nor is it caused by hair dye or bleach (at least, not permanently).

The most common causes of female hair loss include:

• Chemotherapy

Hair loss is a temporary side-effect of this treatment.

• Telogen effluvium

This condition generally occurs a few months after a major shock or trauma, such as childbirth, excessive stress, an operation, sudden weight loss or even as a reaction to particular medication.  Women with this condition usually experience thinning or shedding of the hair, but it is not normally permanent.

• Androgenetic alopecia (female-pattern baldness)

This is where the hair thins or sheds with age, usually after the menopause. This condition also tends to run in families.

• Alopecia areata

This condition mostly occurs in young adults or teenagers, its effects are sometimes temporary.  Caused by problems with the immune system, symptoms include patchy hair loss.