Causes and Treatment of Hair Loss in Children
Hair loss in children can be a cause of great concern for parents. It is normal to shed a small amount of hair every day, but when the rate becomes excessive it could be an indication that your child is going through something stressful or unhealthy. The most common reason for hair loss in children is due to dietary factors and hormonal changes
One should avoid applying any kind of oil on the scalp as this could also trigger hair fall in children because excess oil binds with protein content present in the scalp thus restricting its growth.
In order to prevent further hair loss, one should wash their child’s hair regularly using mild shampoos at least thrice a week and rub gently while combing their hair. One should also check whether there are any lice present in the child’s hair because louse infestation is one of the most common reasons for kids losing their hair.
If you are unable to find any lice in your kid’s hair, do not lose heart and visit a doctor immediately because there could be some serious underlying cause of shedding too much hair like malnutrition, poor blood circulation, or thyroid problems.
A doctor will examine your child thoroughly before prescribing medicine for this problem. If anemia is diagnosed, then iron supplements are given along with vitamin B12 injections. Other medicines are also prescribed based on the type of problem that has been diagnosed by the doctor.
When at all possible avoid using overly harsh shampoos when washing your child’s hair as they contain chemicals that cause hair fall.
Here are some home remedies for hair loss in children:
1) Mix one tablespoon of fenugreek seeds (Methi Dana) with three tablespoons of lemon juice and grind them to make a fine paste. Apply this paste on your child’s scalp and leave it for 20 minutes before you wash his/her hair with lukewarm water. Follow this remedy thrice every week in order to recover from hair fall problems.
2) You can also mix amla juice or gooseberry juice with almond oil and apply it on the scalp every night before going to bed in order to treat alopecia effectively. However, do not use hot oil treatments as they may lead to infection in the affected area since children have sensitive skin.
3) Take one tablespoon of lemon juice, five teaspoons of olive oil, and two tablespoons of castor oil in an air-tight container and mix them well to make a fine paste. Massage this paste on your child’s scalp before going to bed every night for 10-15 days.
This will help heal hair loss problems effectively because lemon has vitamin C content which helps to improve hair growth while olive oil nourishes the scalp and prevents further shedding off hair, thus resulting in increased hair length and thickness. Castor oil also helps to increase blood flow and prevent premature graying of hairs.
4) Boil some water in a saucepan and add one teaspoon of aloe vera juice and apple cider vinegar to it. Dip a cotton towel in the solution and wring out maximum moisture from it before applying it to your child’s hair.
Keep this on for 20 minutes before washing off with cold water. Aloe vera will moisturize your child’s hair while apple cider vinegar helps to remove dandruff from the scalp thus promoting hair growth.
5) Massage some olive oil or coconut oil into your child’s scalp regularly to treat hair fall as they help to reduce inflammation and swelling of the scalp, thereby reducing hair loss as well as dandruff formation.
This also increases blood flow towards the root of hairs that promotes the healthy growth of new hairs. You can do this daily before going to bed for best results, however, make sure you wash off the oil from your child’s hair the next morning as it may make them very uncomfortable throughout the day.
6) Apply a good quality multivitamin and mineral supplement on your child’s scalp to treat hair fall problems because vitamin content present in multivitamins helps to prevent premature graying of hairs and improves blood circulation towards the scalp, thereby reducing chances of hair loss to a great extent.
Home remedies for child hair loss:
One of the most common causes of hair loss in children is alopecia areata. This is when small round patches of hair fall out. Alopecia areata is not dangerous, but it does cause children to lose their hair so they don’t look like everyone else.
Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is one type of blood cancer in which a person makes too many lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell. White blood cells normally fight infections and keep the body’s defenses working properly.
But when someone has acute lymphoblastic leukemia, these white blood cells damage the other healthy cells in a child’s bone marrow and then get into the bloodstream and spread throughout the body.
These abnormal white blood cells crowd out the healthy blood cells – red blood cells, platelets, and others. The disease is called leukemia because it affects the lymphocytes that are normally found in a person’s bone marrow
what can cause hair loss in a child:
Hereditary hair loss (also called androgenetic alopecia) is the most common cause of hair loss in children. It causes hair thinning that gets worse with age. Less than 1% of children have this type of hair loss, but it’s more common in teenagers and young adults.
Children who lose their front teeth early are at risk for receding gums which can lead to thinning or no adult teeth later on. These include primary teeth that fall out too soon (before 6 years) or permanent teeth that were not correctly formed because they did not get enough minerals while growing in the mother’s body during pregnancy.
What you should do:
The earlier treatment starts, the better chance your child has to grow back the hair. Children who have good self-esteem about their appearance are less likely to be teased or become withdrawn. This might affect how they do in school or make friends.
If your child has already started losing his or her hair, there’s still hope for regrowth. But it’s best to see a doctor right away because other causes of hair loss can be more serious and need treatment right away to avoid complications that could affect the rest of your child’s life.
Hair loss in children vitamin deficiency:
Lack of iron, zinc, protein, or vitamin D can cause hair loss in children.
Iron deficiency is the most common nutritional disorder in the world. It’s often seen in young women but can affect boys and girls at any age. Iron makes red blood cells that carry oxygen to all parts of your body. Without enough iron, organs don’t get enough oxygen. This can lead to severe problems throughout the body.
A lack of protein could be due to malnutrition if it happens during a period when your child needs lots more calories than usual (such as during growth spurts). If it affects only one child in a family (and isn’t caused by malnutrition), it might be more likely due to inherited conditions such as Trichorrhexis invaginata (see below).
A lack of vitamin D happens when you don’t get enough sunlight or vitamin-D-fortified foods. It weakens bones and teeth, which can lead to anemia (a drop in red blood cells), osteoporosis (brittle bones), and tooth decay. Vitamin D is also important for the health of hair, skin, and nails.
lack of hair growth in a child:
A lack of hair growth is sometimes due to a genetic disorder called trichorrhexis invaginata. It causes fragile, bumpy, or corkscrew-shaped hair that easily breaks off.
If your child has this condition, it’s likely he or she will have thinning hair for life. And the sparser the hair becomes, the greater the risk of developing infections in the scalp. This can lead to permanent hair loss.
Diagnosis:
Your doctor will ask about your child’s symptoms and medical history. A physical exam will be done, focusing on your child’s scalp and hair. Tests might include: Blood tests to check for anemia Hair pull test – where hairs are pulled out by their roots Lab test for vitamin D levels.