In today’s world of fashion and stress, problems relating to children’s hair have become a worrying trend. Trichologists from all over the world have been complaining about a rise in hair problems of kids.
When a baby is born, the first crop of hair is usually silky and fragile, and they lose some hair on the back of their head because of sleeping for long hours or constant back-and-forth movement. This is normal and is expected for the first few months.
The most common problem seen in children are Alopecia areata, traction alopecia, telogen effluvium, tinea capitis and trichotillomania.
Alopecia areata
This condition arises when there is complete loss of hair in more than one area of the scalp without scalp redness or scaling. It is neither contagious nor caused by food. It is due to physical or mental stress. Sometimes white hair will be seen, but that is only for a temporary period and will eventually return to its natural colour. Children suffering from this condition normally grow back new hair within a year.
Traction alopecia
When lot of physical and chemical attacks are done on the hair like colouring, perming, blow drying, streaking etc, it destroys the fragile human hair. Handle your hair gently and use natural hair styles instead of tight pony tails, waving style and braiding that can be disastrous for your hair. The hair will grow, but will be a slow re-growth.
Telogen effluvium
This is a normal process where baby hairs are replaced by mature hair. When there is hair loss in older children, it can be due to illness or stress. You may feel that the child is losing all his hair and is growing bald. But the hair usually grows within six months, if taken proper care.
Tinea capitis
This is a very common cause of hair loss in children. It is caused due to fungus that attack the hair shaft and causes hair loss like scales, broken hair, enlarged lymph glands, formation of kerion and a big red boggy nodule on the scalp. It is contagious and is transmitted by contact with an infected child. Children who are three to ten years old should avoid sharing of caps, combs and pillows of infected children, as they are more vulnerable.
The Childs scalp should be kept clean by every day shampooing of hair and proper medication should be given to be completely cured.
Trichotillomania.
In this case, the child pulls the hair out, leaving a patch of hair on the scalp with broken-off hair of different lengths. Sometimes the hair of eyebrows and eyelashes are also pulled by the child. Focus on why the child is behaving this way. Consult a trichologist to solve this problem, as it needs counselling too.
Tips for hair care
Give them healthy diet containing lot of proteins, zinc and magnesium and lot of water for growth of healthy hair.
Let them live a stress free life by not nagging at them frequently for silly things.
Keep their hair clean by regular shampooing and adopt easy hair styles and avoid accessories that can pull or break your child’s hair.
