Have you ever overheard a parent asking a pharmacist for a hair loss treatment for their child? It is a sad reality that losing hair is not just something adults deal with, but there is many hair systems and even a hair loss cure that is specifically designed for the use of children. Probably the first type of hair loss in children that a parent will face comes at the toddler stage. While other children are sporting locks or even limp hair, your might have bald spots.
Consider the following: does your child frequently wear headbands (usually these are foisted on little girls more often than boys) or hats and caps? While the latter are great at keeping heads and ears warm, they also reduce the scalp circulation and will contribute to some hair loss, especially in those areas where the headband or the hat will rub against the skin and cause hair breakage. With the broken off hair, it will appear that the child’s hair is falling out, even though some fuzz is still visible, although only slightly.
This kind of hair loss, children commonly show it, is treated quickly and easily simply by discontinuing the headgear. On the other hand, hair treatments are required when the child may suffer from a fungal infection that has caused an attack to the follicles and thus resulted in a loss of hair. Most commonly associated with such fungi is ringworm, and with proper treatment there is no need for any hair loss treatments or medical hair restoration. Instead, ensure that your child will not share hats, combs or any other such item with another child and then apply a fungus cream – your pediatrician will either prescribe one or suggest and over the counter product – to the affected area.
Believe it or not, but some non-adult hair loss is indeed caused by over styling! This is frequently seen in young beauty pageant contestants where parents are using harsh chemicals to curl or straighten and even dye hair, usually without realizing that a child’s hair is rather fragile and what might be acceptable – though not recommended – for an adult’s hairdo, is capable of destroying a child’s hair. The same is true for young African American children whose hairs are braided in tight corn rows and who usually have very elaborate hair styles from the youngest ages.
In some cases hair loss children evidence may be directly related to their extracurricular activities, such as swim clubs or outdoor activities where the hair is being made brittle by a hot sun. Children who enjoy swimming need to be trained in the proper care of their hair after swimming since chlorine is notorious for the damage to the hair it causes. In the same vein, ensure that those who are out in the sun will either wear a sunhat or, considering that children will be rather caught dead than wearing a sunhat, they use conditioner and even leave in conditioner after such sun exposure.
In some cases the loss of hair, as evidenced by sudden bald patches, may also be an indication of a behavioral problem. Insist on a visit with the pediatrician to rule out physical or behavioral reasons for your child’s hair loss before checking for treatment options.
