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Hair loss in an infant

For every mother-to-be, the birth of a baby is a special, extremely significant and exciting moment. And, of course, everything that happens to the baby from the very first days of his life makes the newly-made mother rejoice, worry, worry. One of the processes that worries young mothers is hair loss in newborns. But are there any reasons to worry? Why do babies lose their hair?

What is the reason for hair loss in babies

baldness
Hair loss in babies is a natural process

There are situations when newborn babies experience hair loss. The reasons for this baldness in babies are different.

In newborns, different systems are not fully formed, the hairs on the head are very thin, like a downy. They can be damaged very easily, for example by scratching. Often, hair loss in babies occurs during the first 12 months of a baby's life. However, new hairs immediately appear in place of those that have fallen out. They are already stronger and stronger, and also have greater resistance to mechanical stress.

The active replacement of thin hairs with stronger ones occurs in the first three months of a baby's life. That is, there is initially no reason to worry if they do not grow very well. This period is necessary to change the structure of the hair, the formation of hair follicles.

If the baby has areas on the head where there is no hair at all

In some cases, such areas can appear in just one night. In this case, you should consult your doctor. The doctor will help you determine the exact reasons for this process, prescribe the necessary treatment.

You should also consult a doctor in case of accompanying the process of hair loss with additional symptoms (sweating in the middle of the night, change in the shape of the head). Since these may be symptoms of progressive rickets. You need to be most attentive in spring and winter. At this time, the deficiency of vitamin D in the body is exacerbated in babies. And this contributes to a lack of calcium.

Remember, rickets is a serious disease, it can cause deformation of the spine and bones of the skull, incorrect formation of the skeleton.

Prevention of hair loss in newborns

The first thing to remember is not to self-medicate. In case of profuse hair loss in the baby, obvious bald patches, you need to see a doctor.

To prevent hair loss in infants, you should:

  • put on a baby hat made of soft fabric, which will fit snugly to the head. It will protect the child's hair from mechanical damage during sleep;
  • when bathing, it is better to use hypoallergenic shampoos for children. They are less harmful to babies as they do not contain chemical additives. But do not get carried away, it is better to apply shampoo no more than twice a week. Stop using soap. It dries out baby's delicate scalp very much. Every second day you need to bathe the baby in a decoction of chamomile and string;
  • it is necessary to comb the hair of the child with a special brush for newborns. These combs are designed with all the characteristics of the delicate scalp of a baby in mind. Combs with stiff teeth or bristles can not only cause hair loss, but also injure your child.

Loss rate

The improvement and formation of the hair structure in babies occurs up to 5 years. Hair loss in babies under 3 months old is quite normal. An attentive attitude to the baby and his health, hygiene, proper nutrition, timely access to a doctor will help to avoid problems and unnecessary worries.