What does alopecia in kids look like?
Alopecia areata frequently presents as the sudden onset of smooth, round, hairless patches on the scalp. The affected areas are usually skin-colored but may have a peach color. Occasionally, there are scattered short colored or white hairs within the hairless patch.
How do I know if my child has alopecia?
If your child has alopecia areata, they: will have a completely bald patch or patches. won’t have scaling, changed skin colour, scarring, itching or tenderness. might have bald patches or hair loss on areas of the scalp, eyebrows, eyelashes or body, or over the entire scalp or body.
What does alopecia look like when it first starts?
The first sign of alopecia areata is often a round or oval bald patch on the scalp.
Can a 5 year old get alopecia?
People of all ages, races and both sexes can develop alopecia areata, but it often first appears during childhood. Children who have alopecia areata go through different stages of awareness and acceptance of their disease as they grow and change.
Does childhood alopecia go away?
While there is no cure for alopecia areata, treatment can control the disease in some children. Many have their hair back within a year, although regrowth is unpredictable and many will lose hair again.
Why does my 6 year old have a bald spot?
Hair loss in children can be caused by a number of issues including hair pulling, hormone imbalances, and nutritional deficiencies. If your child suddenly develops smooth, round, bald spots on their scalp and other parts of their body, they may have a condition called alopecia areata.
Can you pass alopecia to my child?
Is alopecia areata hereditary? Yes, heredity plays a role. Alopecia areata is a ‘polygenic disease’ which requires the contribution of many genes to be inherited from both parents to bring about the disease, as well as a contribution from the environment.
What causes child alopecia?
The most common causes of paediatric alopecia are largely non-scarring. These include tinea capitis, alopecia areata, trauma due to traction alopecia or trichotillomania, and telogen effluvium. Scarring alopecia can also occur in childhood and requires scalp biopsy and further investigation by a dermatologist.
Why do kids have alopecia?
Is alopecia an immune disorder?
Alopecia areata is an autoimmune disease. This means that your immune system mistakenly attacks a part of your body. When you have alopecia areata, cells in your immune system surround and attack your hair follicles (the part of your body that makes hair).