Tinea Capitis

• Tinea capitis, a contagious fungal infection similar to athlete's foot, pertains to the scalp, eyebrows and eyelashes. The fungus invades the hair shaft and causes hair breakage to occur. According to the website HairlossTalk.com, this condition usually occurs in pre-pubescent children, and more likely in boys than in girls. Characteristics of this type of hair loss are round or oval patches of baldness, with visible pieces of broken hair at the scalp surface. Gray flakes or scales may be present. An oral anti-fungal medication is usually prescribed for treatment and is often successful in restoring hair growth. A doctor may also prescribe a medicated shampoo to assist in treatment and to minimize contagiousness.
  
  

Alopecia Areata

• Alopecia areata is a non-contagious medical condition that is characterized by oval or round patches of baldness. Usually absent are inflammation, scaling or broken hairs. The onset is often sudden, or may occur within several days. The American Hair Loss Association states the cause may be related to the immune system invading the hair follicles. According to the website drgreene.com, approximately 5 percent of children with this condition will become totally bald, while some will lose all body hair. With the right course of treatment, 95 percent of children will resume normal hair growth within a year. Treatment often includes the suppression or distraction of the immune system. In some cases new hair growth may be white, but it will usually return to the original pigment in time.
  
  

Traction, Friction & Burning

• Trauma to the hair shaft can occur from traction, or the prolonged styling of hair in the same manner, such as braiding, ponytails or cornrows; friction, the continual rubbing of the head on a wheelchair or bed; or through chemicals in the form of permanents, dyeing or hair-straightening processes. Characteristics of hair loss related to trauma are patchy baldness and possibly varied lengths of broken hairs within the patches. In treating this type of baldness, one should avoid over-handling hair, and brush or wash hair in a gentle manner. Also, one should avoid using barrettes or headbands, and limiting hair styles to those that are more natural and void of chemicals. While the process of hair growth may be slow, it should occur as long as scarring of the scalp has not occurred.
  
  

Trichotillomania

• Another form of trauma to the hair shaft is trichotillomania, the compulsive habit of pulling or twirling hair. Often the compulsive behavior occurs at nighttime when the parents aren't aware that it is happening. Many times, a child will spontaneously stop the behavior and hair growth will return to normal as long as there is no scarring of the hair shaft. Characteristics of this type of hair loss are patchy baldness and possibly varied lengths of broken hairs within the patches.
  
  

Telogen Effluvium

• When telogen effluvium occurs, a stressful event brings about the interruption of the normal hair growth cycle so more hair is being lost than growing. Common reasons for this hair loss include: high fever, child birth, some medications such as those used in chemotherapy, and extreme dieting practices. Once the stress has ended, hair growth usually resumes.