Hair loss is often associated men of a certain age, which is why hair loss in women can be so upsetting. Potentially even worse than female hair loss, however, is when a hair loss condition occurs in children.
There are many causes of hair loss in children, including:
• Alopecia areata –an autoimmune disorder which causes patchy hair loss
• Tinea capitis (ringworm) – a contagious fungal infection which shows up as scaly, round patches of hair loss on the scalp
• Telogen effluvium – a hair loss condition caused by sudden or severe stress interrupting the normal hair growth cycle
• Trichotillomania – a compulsive disorder in which the child feels the urge to pull out their own hair
• Nutritional deficiency – a less common occurrence, a lack of B vitamins (i.e. biotin) or zinc in the diet can cause hair loss
• Endocrine problems – conditions such as hypothyroidism, where the thyroid is underactive, can cause hair loss
Baby hair loss
Hair loss in very young children and babies can have non-medical causes, which often go away on their own. These causes include rubbing (friction with car seat or crib mattress) and newborn hair loss, where the hair falls out to be replaced by permanent hair.