TLDR The document concludes that various childhood hair and nail disorders exist, some may improve on their own, and advances in genetics and immunology could enhance treatment and counseling.
The document from 2008 reviews a range of hair and nail disorders in children, detailing both congenital and acquired conditions. It discusses hair shaft disorders, which can be hereditary or secondary, and are classified based on their fragility. Conditions such as temporal triangular alopecia, Setleis syndrome, aplasia cutis congenita, and nevus sebaceous are covered, along with the autoimmune disease alopecia areata, which has a polygenic predisposition and varies in prognosis. Psychological disorders like trichotillomania are also addressed. The review highlights tinea capitis, a common fungal infection in children, and its treatment with systemic antifungals. Nail disorders are discussed, including congenital and acquired conditions, with some improving spontaneously and others requiring surgical intervention. The document emphasizes the importance of psychological support and the potential for spontaneous remission in some cases, and suggests that ongoing research in genetics and immunology may improve treatments and genetic counseling for these disorders.
94 citations,
September 2008 in “Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology” Traction alopecia is more common in African women than girls, especially when traction is applied to chemically relaxed hair; avoiding such hairstyles may reduce the risk.
59 citations,
June 2008 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology” The article explains the genetic causes and symptoms of various hair disorders and highlights the need for more research to find treatments.
286 citations,
August 2007 in “Journal of Clinical Investigation” Alopecia areata is an autoimmune disease where T cells attack hair follicles.
151 citations,
February 2007 in “International Journal of Dermatology” Alopecia areata causes hair loss, has no cure, and various treatments exist.
304 citations,
July 2006 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology” Videodermoscopy improves diagnosis of hair and scalp disorders and may reduce scalp biopsies.
37 citations,
July 2005 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology” Short anagen syndrome involves a hair growth phase lasting 1.5 years.
65 citations,
January 2005 in “American journal of clinical dermatology” Children with scalp fungal infections need proper diagnosis and treatment, usually with antifungal medications, and newer drugs may offer quicker recovery.
139 citations,
September 2001 in “The journal of investigative dermatology/Journal of investigative dermatology” Mutations in the Vitamin D receptor gene can cause hair loss similar to mutations in the Hairless gene.
November 2019 in “Harper's Textbook of Pediatric Dermatology” Understanding normal hair growth and loss in children is key to diagnosing and treating hair disorders.
November 2019 in “Harper's Textbook of Pediatric Dermatology” The document is a detailed medical reference on skin and genetic disorders.
July 2018 in “Elsevier eBooks” The most common cause of hair loss in children is tinea capitis, followed by alopecia areata and telogen effluvium.
24 citations,
January 2015 in “Current problems in dermatology” The document concludes that accurate diagnosis of hair loss in children is crucial due to limited treatment options and the condition's psychological impact.
1 citations,
January 2019 in “Paediatrics and Child Health” The document concludes that understanding hair biology and recognizing hair conditions are crucial for managing and treating hair loss in children.
