Hair loss in children due to chemotherapy and trichotillomania

Hair loss in children due to chemotherapy and trichotillomania

Hair loss can be a pretty devastating condition for most people. It causes not only ridicule, but also unacceptance and too many emotional scars. Imagine having to introduce these disturbing social norms to a child! There could be nothing more annoying for a child than knowing that he is different and that the world would not tolerate him.

The conditions that usually trigger hair loss in children are trichotillomania and alopecia due to exposure to chemoradiation. Although children may have fewer problems with hair loss compared to socially active adults, they are still not immune to stares and taunts.

There have been some studies that encourage children to make their own decisions when it comes to their hair loss. Parents have no right to force their children to do what they want, e.g. B. forcing them to wear hats or forcing them to go out in public (even if the child doesn't want to).

Some children are comfortable going out in public even if they don't have a full head of hair. These children may not completely agree with their condition, but they simply prefer to look natural and do nothing. Some children are more sensitive to prying eyes, so they wear a hat, hair prostheses (or wigs), and others even wear scarves. As for wigs, there are now customized products that can be worn by children.

Hair loss due to chemotherapy

Children who undergo chemoradiation also needlessly suffer from hair loss. The good thing is that after a month or two of the last chemotherapy session, the patient is forced to regrow his hair. Hair growth may be slightly slower than normal hair growth, but the reassuring fact is that this condition is not permanent.

Parents could provide emotional support to their child by asking them what their favorite thing to do with their hair is. In addition, the oncologist often has an idea where to go for a consultation about hair loss.

Hair loss due to trichotillomania

Sometimes children suffer from a condition where they cannot control hair pulling. Due to this uncontrollable action, a large amount of hair is often lost. Trichotillomania was historically considered a rare disorder, but recently more and more doctors have diagnosed the condition (1% of the total US population has it).

Patients suffering from this disease need to know that they are not alone. In fact, there are learning centers whose goal is to educate TTM patients on what to do and how to treat them. TTM is similar to nail biting or skin picking and is a serious condition if left untreated.

Hair loss caused by TTM cannot be treated with standard topical ointments or creams. It is best to deal with the underlying psychological factor to stop hair pulling and stop hair loss. It is advisable that the patient undergo psychotherapy and take some antidepressants.

Parents of such children should be emotionally supportive and patient. Regardless of whether the hair loss is caused by chemotherapy or TTM, the results could still be socially demoralizing.

Inspired by Wong Darren