Raechele Cochran Gathers, MD Traction alopecia in kids is not uncommon. Traction alopecia in kids occurs because of too much pulling and tension on the hair and scalp. Most commonly, the excessive pulling and tension is at the hairline when you see traction alopecia in kids.
Thin edges—or even baldness—at the front hairline and temples can be a sign of traction alopecia in kids. Some kids with traction alopecia also get hair loss at the tops of their heads or near the napes of their necks.
Signs of Traction Alopecia in Kids
- Thinning or bald patches around the hairline and temples
- Redness around the edges of the hair or at the base of braids
- Small skin colored or whitish bumps (pustules) at edges of hair or at base of braids
- Your child complains of headaches
- Your child complains of her scalp hurting or throbbing
Preventing Traction Alopecia in Kids
Luckily, traction alopecia in kids is avoidable. Traction alopecia is caused by external factors or styling practices, so by avoiding these practices, we can avoid the condition. Make sure that braids or twists are not tight! Check out these photos of girls with lovely low tension natural twist hairstyles.
If you’re putting your child’s hair in ponytails, use fabric covered bands or scrunchies, and fight the urge to loop them around 3 and 4 times! It’s okay if it’s a little loose. For sleek edges, use an alcohol free gel or edge control, or add a little natural oil such as shea butter and cover your child’s hair with a satin scarf like this one for about 10-15 minutes. This should sleek the edges nicely, but will avoid the excessive tension that leads to traction alopecia in kids.
You should avoid weaving and extensions in young girls. The tension that these hairstyles can cause is not worth the risk in children.
Treatment
If you’re starting to notice thin edges or bald spots on your child’s hair, definitely see a dermatologist first. It’s important to get a diagnosis. Other conditions, like ringworm and alopecia areata can cause hair loss or thin edges…and sometimes they can look similar to traction alopecia in kids. There are all sorts of treatments for traction alopecia, though they are most commonly used in adults. You can read more about them on this post on traction alopecia.
Luckily, kids are pretty resilient and often their scalp and hair tends to heal and bounce back. In many cases of traction alopecia in kids, just stopping the tight hairstyles is enough to allow the hair to grow back on its own. In other cases, your dermatologist may recommend other treatments.
Featured Image: Courtesy of @karenstacks via IG
