Alopecia in children is a rare condition and can have a number of causes. In most cases it can be treated successfully, although there are also situations in which hair loss is permanent.
Alopecia in children is not a very common problem. In fact, it is estimated that it only corresponds to 1% of pediatric consultations. However, this should not be downplayed, as it is a very distressing condition for the child and his parents.
It must be said that this condition can be a temporary or permanent problem. Despite this, do not wait to consult a specialist if any abnormality is detected in the hair or scalp. As is often the case, early treatment improves expectations.
What is alopecia in children?
Alopecia in children occurs when there is a noticeable disproportion between the hair that falls out and the new ones that are born. The most obvious sign that this occurs is the presence of areas of the head where there is no hair. What is known in popular culture as “bald”.
Physiological hair loss is called when the loss is normal. The common thing is that the child loses between 100 and 150 hairs a day and that, in the same way, the new hair is replacing the one that is lost.
If this renewal process does not take place, there is alopecia. For this reason, areas of the head without hair begin to be seen. According to the way it is presented, it can be congenital, if it is present from birth ; or acquired, if it arises later.
Likewise, it is called “scarring” when there is irreversible damage to the hair follicle; and non-scar, if the damage is reversible. The vast majority of alopecia cases in children are of the non-scarring type and are therefore treatable. The causes of the problem are multiple and give rise to various types of alopecia. We will detail it below.
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