Conditions
Alopecia
It can be bad enough when grown men and women lose their hair, but imagine how traumatic it is for kids. Alopecia areata is the medical name for the type of baldness that most frequently affects children and teenagers. It isn’t common, and usually involves a patchy loss of hair from all over the head rather than the evenly receding hairline that men experience. The NHS reports that in one in five cases alopecia runs in the family, and that of the one in a hundred people affected, many are children or teenagers. One clinic in Manchester has reported that the number of under-21 year olds it saw with alopecia increased three times between 2007 and 2009, so it’s a growing problem. Often it’s hereditary. Sadly, there’s no cure. In many cases the hair will eventually grow back naturally. But in some it won’t. There are, however, several ways in which it can be disguised, by wearing wigs, for instance.
The precise causes of alopecia aren’t always clear, though experts believe it’s connected to how well the immune system works. It doesn’t mean there’s any other problem with your child’s health, it isn’t connected to nutrition, and opinion is divided as to whether it can be triggered by stress. The hair on the head tends to fall out in circles, leaving bare patches of healthy-looking skin of up to a couple of centimetres in size.
Since there’s no simple or quick way of undoing the problem, if hair loss hits your child, you’ll need to provide emotional and psychological support. Firstly, let a doctor check that the condition isn’t a symptom of something else, such as thyroid disease – a condition which affects the glands.
If there’s no other underlying problem, then it’s a question of waiting to see when and whether the hair grows back. This can be an anxious, stressful time for kids, and it can make going to school or having a social life feel very hard. Little Britain star Matt Lucas suffers from alopecia universalis, a condition which results in the complete loss of hair from all over the body. It started to affect him when he was just six. “I did feel very self-conscious about my appearance,” he’s said. “Going through puberty was hard.” Kids with alopecia need a lot of support. Alopeciaonline.org.uk is one organisation that can help.
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i don't really have bald pathes (or havn't found any) I'm 14 and if i run my finger through it'll come our or if i brush or wash it! I'm really scared as my dad lost his hair :'( But i don't know if my hair loss is just natrual? it dind't used to come out, what does the average person lose?
Im 14 years old and i have always had really long thick hair, in april 2011 it started to fall out, its got verry thin but i only have about two smallish bald patches on the back of my head it goes all over my clothes pillow and floor and mainly comes out in the shour or brushing what do i do??
My daughter is 13, she had just developed a small penny sized patch on the side of her head, luckily it is on the side of her head towards the back and well hidden by the rest of her hair and can't be seen only when we are washing it .She is very healthy, we have no reports of hair loss in the family, however she has recently had her booster immunisation at school and I wonder if this has triggered it. Also could anyone give advice as to whether she is likely to get anymore patches appear and what are the chances of her hair growing back? Thanks
I have alopecia areata and I am only 15, it's hard to live with it especially in my teens, I don't want anyone to know, what can I do to help it and make go away? Or less noticeable ?
I understand how you feel as the same thing happened to my boyfriend when he was younger than you. He is shy and has a week immune system, so it is hard to say if it was nerves that prompted it or his immune system. Look after yourself, watch your diet, try to be as healthy as you can by exercising and getting enough sleep as this will also lift your self esteem. You can have semi permanent tattoo on your scalp, look up the celeb hairdresser - Adee Phelan tattoo. I have had my eyebrows done with a semi permanent tattoo and it makes me feel alot better. You can also find a special pencil like an eyebrow pencil in large Boots stores Nanogen Aquamatch, or pinch our mum or sisters eyebrow pencil, they come in different shades and you can get a waterproof one. There is also another product which bonds to hair you do have , also in boots. I know it can really get you down but men look fabulous with very short or bald heads! My soon wears cool caps & hats and doesnt have alopecea but its his trademark! Keep smiling!
I put a comment on here in October about my twelve year old daughter. Has anyone found treatment that helps ! ?
my daughter started pulling her hair out when she was 18months old, she is almost 3 now and though she has a full head of hair at the moment(around 2inches long) any slight change in her life can make her start pulling again and result in bald patches. i am very concerned as she gets mistaken for a boy and i dont want her getting bullied about it when she starts school next year. i have seen 3 doctors, took her for tests and seen a specialist yet no-one seems to have seen it before within her age group. can anyone help?many thanks.
My son is 6 years old, i discovered a small bald patch 18 months ago, this gradually got bigger and alopecia areata was diagnosed, other parts of his hair thinned and we paid to see a dermotologist privately, he began treatment and his hair began to grow back but fell out else where, he then caught chicken pox and when he had this his hair fell out faster than ever before and now he has lost over half his hair. I would be interested in hearing if any one else has noticed this condition worsening during illness. thanks
My son born complete bald ,wid out a single hair .he's not got even eyebrow nor eyelashes ,even though he is dam cute like a dolly baby. He is jus 6 months boybaby. Pls help
Im 13 And i Have Really Bad Hair Loss I Am Brushing My Hair Properly and i dont straighten or use and products except like shampoo and conditioner (Ozy's) And Its Falling Out in big clumps on my pillow and all different things and im startin to get bald patch's and im a girl so people take the mik but i dont no what to do my gp said i will grow out of it in 2010 but i havnt still :/
My 9yr old son has developed a bald spot just under the crown on his head been to doctor at moment treating it for ring worm but i am not so sure it is ring worm as not red or have any other symptoms on body could you tell me what it could be please?
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