Infants lose a little of their hair within a period of six months after birth. There is nothing to be worried about as the hair grows back. The new hair generally has a different colour and texture than what it was at birth.
Between the ages of two and six months, sometimes infants are affected by cradle cap – it is a crusty, scaling rash that appears on the scalp. Cradle cap may cause hair loss and may spread to the other parts of the body and even if it is not treated right away, it clears up within a few months.
There are no common reasons why infants experience hair loss. The reasons of hair loss in children are general inherent in nature.
Loose Anagen Syndrome: This type of hair loss is more common among children who have scanty hair and girls who have light coloured hair. The hair is not too long and if seen under a microscope it lacks an inner and outer root sheath and the cuticle is ruffled.
Triangular Alopecia: This kind of hair loss generally occurs in a pattern that is usually in the shape of a triangle. There is no hair in this area from birth or after that. The absence of hair is irreversible and permanent but does not spread to the other areas. The bald patch remains in the same shape and size for the rest of the life.
Congenital Atrichia: In this kind of hair loss the child is born with normal hair, the hair falls out in the first resting period and the growth process stops. For the hair to grow normally the cells must stay in close contact with each other to send and receive signals to enable the growth of hair. Congenital atrichia disrupts the connection between the cells, and hence disabling the growth of the hair.
Pili Torti: Pili Torti may be congenital or acquired. This condition is more popular among females who have blond hair. When there is a twisting of the fibres of the hair, it leads to the cuticle and other internal cortex layers to be fractured off the shaft of the hair. The hair becomes very dry and brittle and starts breaking at different lengths.
Monilethrix: This condition starts in infancy. The normal hair is replaced with hair that is dry and brittle, the hair bears a beaded appearance. The damaged hair breaks off and rarely grows longer than 2.5 cm.
Uncombable Hair Syndrome: This syndrome is associated with those children who have silvery blonde hair that does not lie flat and is unruly. This kind of hair is very difficult to comb. It is also known as “spun-glass hair.” This syndrome occurs when the hair shafts are in the shape of a triangle and have a longitude grooving – this kind of hair is very unruly and difficult to maintain. However the condition of the hair improves as adolescence sets in.
Children may become prone to other forms of hair loss too, as they grow older.
Alopecia areata: This is an autoimmune disorder that causes hair fall in patches. This occurs in children between the age of four and seven – though this condition may occur in people of different ages as well. This condition can progress to alopecia universalis or alopecia totalis which affects the whole scalp and the hair on the body.
Ringworm: Unlike the name, ringworm is a type of fungus called dermatophyte – it is contagious and may spread from one person to another or even from animals. This fungal infection occurs in children between four to 11 years. It starts off with a small pimple and then becomes larger, the bald patches are scaly in nature and the outline is in the shape of a ring. The hair becomes brittle before it breaks off leaving a black dot on the scalp and this infection is also referred to as tinea capitis.
Scalp Infections: Some kinds of micro-organisms and bacteria cause an infection and inflammation on the scalp and hair loss. Hair loss caused due to scalp infection may be either permanent or temporary in nature.
Traction Alopecia: This is caused because of tight hairstyles that pull the hair. Hair that is pulled for a long time causes the hair to become loose from the roots. People who routinely wear hairdos that pull the hair have more chances of losing their hair this way. This kind of hair loss is permanent.
Trichotillomania: In Greek, Trichotillomania means a “manic desire to pluck out one’s own hair”. It is a desire that begins in childhood where the child feels like pulling out his or her own hair. There is a certain amount of tension that makes the hair fall out.
Telogen Effluvium: This is also known as diffused hair loss – the hair loss in this condition is acute. Changes in the body may cause this condition where the hair begins to fall. This condition is temporary and may be treated once the reason has been found out. Illness, medication, trauma or surgery may cause the hair to fall only for the temporary period.
Medications: Hair loss may be caused because of medication – psychopharmaceutical medication causes hair loss among adolescents. Medications taken for acne cause hair loss and these medicines generally are derived from vitamin A. Anti fungal and anti-inflammatory medicines also cause side effects. Steroids and birth control medicines may also cause hair loss.
Eating Disorders: Persons who suffer from anorexia nervous or bulimia may have unhealthy hair and experience hair loss.
Hormonal Changes: Changes in the hormone levels may cause hair fall – hair loss occurs during puberty.
Immunizations: Vaccinations have adverse side effects and hair loss is one of them and is more common with the hepatitis B vaccine.