Many parents are very worried about the baby, constantly examining his body. Some notice that the baby's hair begins to fall out. It should be noted that this phenomenon in itself does not pose any danger, but sometimes it can be evidence of pathology.
Why does a newborn's head hair fall out? Parents are very concerned about this issue. This situation is considered normal, occurs quite often. However, it is still better to see a doctor and get diagnosed.
Causes of hair loss
You need to understand that hair loss can be caused by various factors. Among them are lichen, rickets, fungus, as well as trauma to the follicles. In order to establish the exact cause, you must definitely contact a specialist.
Injury
Injury to the follicles can happen due to the fact that the curls are too tight all the time, there was a chemical burn. Hair can begin to fall out if it is constantly pulled. Some babies pull them out themselves or touch them too sharply. Newborns have very brittle hair, so they break easily. You need to understand that if the loss began due to injury, then you can stop it only if you reduce the friction and tension of the hair.
Lichen, hormones
When answering the question of why a newborn baby's hair falls out, it is necessary to note such a serious reason as lichen. This disease is fungal in nature. A characteristic symptom is rounded and scaly spots. At the same time, there are no hairs on their surface. Treatment necessarily includes the appointment of antifungal drugs.
Sometimes hair loss is triggered by hormonal changes. However, in this case, the number of lost curls is small. The reason for this is that in the womb, maternal hormones were supplied to the child, respectively, after childbirth, their number is sharply reduced.
Friction
Friction leads to severe baldness in the temples or on the back of the head. This problem is often confused with alopecia areata. This problem occurs, as a rule, in children from 3 years old, so there is nothing to be afraid of newborns.
Dermatitis
Another reason is seborrheic dermatitis. Its second name is gneiss. The phenomenon occurs quite often. In this case, a characteristic symptom will be not only hair loss, but also crusts that are difficult to separate from the skin. They are yellow or grey. Parents need to keep in mind: if they are removed without first softening with warm water or a greasy cream, the child will havealong with the foci of inflammation, follicles are also removed. But it is imperative to eliminate the crusts, as they prevent hair growth.
Rickets
Rickets is considered a popular cause. Doctors often prescribe diagnostic measures and vitamin D as a preventive measure in a situation where a newborn has lost hair. If rickets is indeed confirmed in a child, such measures will help to contain him in the early stages of development.
Hair loss at the back of the head
Why do newborns lose hair on the back of their heads? There may be several reasons. These include stress, fungus, hormonal problems, problems with the immune system, trauma to the hair follicles.
Sometimes the same posture of the head during sleep leads to baldness in the back of the head. Pediatricians advise to change the position of the head during the day and monitor the quality of bed linen.
Types of hair loss
To date, there are several types of baldness in newborns.
Scalp hair loss can be telogen in nature. This nature suggests that the child's hair stops growing and developing. There comes the so-called coma. The follicles are dormant. This problem develops after an injury, surgery, overdose of drugs or vitamins. Hair loss is considered temporary, as once the cause is removed, the follicles are immediately activated.
Another type of hair loss -alopecia areata. A characteristic feature of this process is that the child's hair falls out in whole bunches. The fallout is pretty fast. 3-4 days are enough for no hair to remain on the head. This problem should be treated only under the supervision of a doctor. At the same time, medications are prescribed that will not harm the child. If necessary, during the course of therapy, the drugs may change, especially if the process has not stopped and, as a result, the newborn's hair has fallen out. The problem with identifying this type of baldness is that it is difficult to determine the exact cause. Most often, such consequences are caused by a malfunction of the immune system, stress, problems with the thyroid gland, and mental trauma.
The third type of baldness is total alopecia. In 3-4 months, the child's hair will completely fall out. In newborns, this problem is less common than others. The causes of this disease can be called underdevelopment of follicles, eating food with chemical additives, infectious diseases, diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.
Prevention measures
So that the child does not have problems with the hairline on the head, all parents need to follow simple rules. It is necessary to dress him only in those hats that sit freely. They need to be selected according to the time of year and the weather. If the clothes are too tight, the hair will fall out due to excessive sweating.
When the baby is sleeping, you need to turn your head in different directions, althoughwould several times. This will avoid bald spots on the back of the head. Before swimming, be sure to measure the temperature of the water. Its optimal indicator is 37 degrees.
All cosmetics (shampoo, soap) should be hypoallergenic. You can wash your hair no more than 2 times in 7 days. To rinse your hair, you should use boiled water. Decoctions of chamomile and string are excellent. Sometimes the situation when a newborn's hair fell out is provoked precisely by improper bathing and washing.
The choice of cosmetics for a child must be treated with all rigor. Newborns are often difficult to tolerate exposure to many components. If the shampoo has a sharp or unpleasant odor, then you need to refuse to buy it. Its color should also be natural.
Hair myths you shouldn't believe
Many parents wonder why a newborn's forehead hair falls out. The most popular opinion is that such symptoms are a sign of rickets. No need to panic. It is better to pay attention to other indicators. Does the child have a change in skin color, tearfulness, sweating, problems with the skull, insomnia, constipation. Moreover, it should be noted that sometimes such symptoms may not speak of rickets, but of a lack of vitamin D and calcium. Most often this happens in autumn and spring. Only one symptom, when a newborn's hair fell out, does not indicate the development of rickets.
Another well-known myth says that the child must be completelyshave his head when he is one year old. At the moment, some parents still adhere to this advice. Experts do not recommend doing this, as newborns have too delicate skin. In addition, the bulbs are very close to the skin, so shaving can damage the follicles. This will lead to either complete or partial baldness.
What should parents do?
As it has already become clear, the problem when a newborn has lost hair is considered common. Parents should have clear instructions on what to do in such a situation.
First of all, you need to pay attention to how much hair is lost during combing. If the comb has hard bristles, then the problem is probably in it. It is best if it is made from natural material. You need to remember that you need to comb only when the hair is dry.
Special attention should be paid to the shampoo. It should have a mild effect on the hair and be safe. Moreover, the cosmetic product must be suitable for age. Often on children's shampoos the restriction "from 3 years" is written. Such funds for newborns are dangerous. You need to wash your hair no more than 1-2 times a week. On other days, you can simply rinse your hair with water. Water temperature must be constantly monitored.
If a girl was born to parents, then do not rush to do her hair with hairpins or elastic bands. Often doctors say that the newborn's hair fell out precisely because of such actions. At this age, the curls are very tender and weak, so they are injured from mechanical stress. It is better to refuse elastic bands and hairpins, especially if they are very tight. In some children, the skin and hairline on the head is sensitive enough, so pediatricians advise to postpone hairstyles until the age of 3.
