Alopecia areata

Alopecia areata

Alopecia areata Reviewed by the BabyCenter Medical Advisory Board Highlights What is alopecia areata? What causes alopecia areata? How can I tell if alopecia areata is what's causing my toddler's hair to fall out? Will the hair come back? Is there a cure? Where can I get more information? What is alopecia areata?Alopecia areata is an autoimmune disorder that causes patches of hair to fall out. While it's rare in children younger than 18 months, it's most likely to start in childhood and can happen at any age. Alopecia areata affects about 4.5 million people in the United States. Dr P. Marazzi / Photo Researchers, Inc If your toddler has this condition, his immune system will attack his hair follicles as if to protect his body from an illness. This attack shrinks the follicles, which then produce hair so slowly that no hair is visible for months or years at a time. Alopecia areata isn't painful, and it doesn't mean that your toddler is unhealthy. Children's Symptom Guide Is it serious? Find out fast Your toddler may lose hair in just a few patches on his head, or his entire scalp may become bald. Rarely, all of the hair on the body is lost. In all but extreme cases, children with alopecia areata almost always recover at least some of their hair. What causes alopecia areata?Researchers don't know what causes alopecia areata, but genetics plays a role. One in five people with the disorder has a family member who has it, too. While hair loss is often attributed to stress and nervous conditions, alopecia areata isn't caused by stress. How can I tell if alopecia areata is what's causing my toddler's hair to fall out?If you've noticed that clumps of your child's hair are falling out and round or oval bald patches have suddenly appeared on his head, the problem may be alopecia areata. The exposed scalp will be smooth, and there may be a few shorter, lighter-colored hairs around the edge of the bare area. (If the bald spots are flaky or crusty, your child may have ringworm instead.) Your toddler's fingernails maybe marked by what look like rows of tiny dents. 1 2 Previous Next Show All
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