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.