Hair Loss in Children: A Detailed Overview of Pediatric Alopecia

The 2019 document provides a detailed overview of pediatric alopecia, categorizing it based on the pattern of hair loss and whether the hair shaft is fragile. It highlights the importance of trichoscopy and punch biopsies for diagnosis. Tinea capitis is identified as the most common cause of hair loss in children, with a 40% prevalence in a study of 2,800 children in Jordan, followed by alopecia areata (26.2%) and telogen effluvium (17.6%). Alopecia areata is an autoimmune condition that can be associated with other autoimmune diseases and is characterized by nonscarring patches of hair loss. Trichotillomania is addressed with behavioral therapy as the primary treatment. The document also discusses other specific conditions like temporal triangular alopecia and aplasia cutis congenita, as well as management strategies for various types of alopecia, including antifungal therapy for tinea capitis and changing hair care practices for traction alopecia. Additionally, it covers hair shaft disorders such as loose anagen syndrome, monilethrix, and trichorrhexis invaginata, noting that some conditions improve with age or puberty and emphasizing the role of trichoscopy in diagnosis.