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Original poster

Very worried - 5yo Sudden Hairloss

9 replies

RayLondon · 07/04/2011 12:33

Hello all

I'm a parent of two girls and our 5 year old has experienced sudden hairloss. Today we noticed a clump of hair missing above her neck - about 3" x 2".

We have a doctors appointment today - just want any help / advice please.

Is this possibly to do with stress (we have just told he she is moving house) and she is realising she is changing schools.

Or what are other common reasons - she is not the best eater ever.

I have to say this is the most worrying thing that has happened - an Googling and do see that hair does grow back.

Advice greatly appreciated.

Thank you.

R

OP posts:
teatotal · 07/04/2011 21:18

Hi there,
You need to search hairloss and fungus. It could be a simple solution in that she needs a new pillow. What did GP say today?

BehindLockNumberNine · 07/04/2011 21:32

Ok, don't take this the wrong way, but are you sure she is not pulling it out herself?
My dd was a bit of a worrier at that age and in the run-up to starting Reception she pulled out a large amount of hair. Individual strands at first (I had noticed her hair was looking sparser but had no clue why and was worried) and then later large clumps of it which she hid in her pockets, under the sofa cushions, under her pillow etc Sad

In a way I was relieved she was doing it herself, it meant there was no 'medical' reason. We cut her hair short, invested in hairbands, gave her worry beads to fiddle with and reassured her about the impending starting school as best we could.

She is now 8 and has never done it again. (and hairwise she has gone from practically bald to shoulderlenght thick locks so it definately grows back at some point)

Sorry if I am way off though...

I hope you find a cause soon and can get it sorted.

Hassled · 07/04/2011 21:35

Alopecia - my DS3 had this last year. Autoimmune, can be linked to Gluten intolerance, can be stress, but usually just one of those things that can happen. In DS3's case (and in most cases) it grew back within the year. So don't panic.

Original poster
RayLondon · 08/04/2011 20:25

All
Thank you for taking the time to respond. Doc has diagnosed it as Alopecia.

Heartening to hear that DS3 saw her hair grew back in a year. We now have to wait to see where this goes - if more falls out or not. The clump that is lost is not visible and we're not making an issue.

We'll keep this thread updated.

R+P

OP posts:
pinkstarlight · 09/04/2011 00:01

when my daughter was about 4 all of a sudden i found a bald patch size of a 2 pence coin it grew back very quickly,never found out why it happened and shes 15 now and it never happened again.

Original poster
RayLondon · 09/04/2011 17:01

Thanks Pinkstarlight

Our D5 has a patch that is about the size of three golfballs.

R

OP posts:
Original poster
RayLondon · 18/04/2011 11:21

Any more thoughts from anyone?

OP posts:
littlejo67 · 18/04/2011 11:49

My DS16 had alopecia, at the worst his patch was 4x3. It grew back within 6 months. Was told by the doctor that it could happen again anytime in his life. We hoped it would not be total.
There are lots of websites that give info. Hopefully it will grow back. Stress and auto- immune disorders can be linked but most of the time it is unexplained. Fingers crossed for your DD.

magzie · 10/05/2011 11:23

hi my daughter is 8years old. and have started to notice when i gently brush her hair there is a lot of hair on the brush. I use a very soft brush and am very careful as i am aware of this. Has anyone else had this problem?

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