Causes of Alopecia in Children
Hair loss in children is primarily caused by a kind of alopecia called alopecia areata, which is an auto-immune disorder. Hair grows in a cycle comprising three stages: anagen, in which the hair fiber grows actively in the hair follicle; catagen, in which the growth of hair follicle gradually comes to a halt; and telogen, in which the hair simply rests and then falls off. In children suffering from alopecia, the hair growth is impeded in the hair fails to enter the second stage of growth and falls of prematurely. This causes round or oval bald patches on the head of the child. In a majority of cases, this is only a temporary problem and as the child grows older, hair growth becomes normal again without medical or cosmetic intervention. Yet, complete recovery of hair lost during this condition can be ensured by following a few simple tips at home.
Natural Cures for Alopecia
You must remember that the child’s scalp is very delicate and becomes especially sensitive if s/he is suffering from alopecia. Thus, care should be taken to maintain good personal hygiene and a healthy care routine to ensure that the loss of hair is restricted and that fungal infections do not occur at the sites of hair loss. Use a mild baby shampoo and conditioner to wash the child’s hair. Never comb the child’s hair while it is still wet as this might cause damage to the roots of the hair and increase the rate of hair loss. You should also avoid tying up the child’s hair into tight ponytails as this creates excessive pressure on the roots of the hair and causes them to break easily.
Besides these general measures, you should also try a few natural remedies to boost hair growth. Massage the child’s scalp gently with mildly heated castor oil at bedtime every alternate night and wash it away with shampoo the next morning. Rubbing the bald patches with the juice of an onion also helps stimulate the hair follicles and sebaceous glands beneath the scalp and promotes faster hair growth. This also has the added advantage of destroying microbes that might infect the sensitized scalp and lead to further hair loss. You should also apply coconut milk on the child’s scalp and hair and leave it on for at least an hour before rinsing it off with lukewarm water. Follow this remedy thrice a week for a significant reduction in hair loss.
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