Excessive hair loss, or Alopecia, in children can have a devastating and unexpected impact on a child's self esteem, sending parents scrambling for Hair Replacement solutions. Though it's not very common for children to lose their hair, nearly 2 million children a year in the United States alone do. No one expects a young child to lose their hair, so when it happens; parents are often baffled and uncertain as to what to do. There are many causes for hair loss in children, most of them medical-related. Your first step when your child loses an excessive amount of hair is always to see your doctor first to rule out physical problems that might be causing hair loss before seeking a hair replacement solution. Also, research organizations.

It should hearten parents to hear that 60% of children with Alopecia outgrow this condition on their own making long-term hair replacement solutions unnecessary. Often within a year or so. Unfortunately, that leaves the other 40% of children who will not have such a favorable resolution to this problem and requiring long-term hair replacement solutions. And even if it's only for a year, that time can leave serious scars on a child's self worth. Like adults, much of a child's identity is tied to his or her hair and appearance. Children who look ?different? can become the unwilling targets of other children's teasing. For parents who are watching their children go through this, finding a solution can become a consuming goal. experts can restore not only a child's lost hair, but their self-esteem as well. Hair pieces, wigs and nonsurgical hair systems fitted to look undetectable by an expert hair replacement clinic can provide the relief parents and children alike are looking for, even if the situation is only temporary.

Some of the most common causes of excessive hair loss in children requiring long-term hair replacement solutions are:

? Tinea capitis ? is a contagious fungal infection of the scalp, also sometimes called scalp ringworm. No worms involved, but the fungus can cause hair to fall out by the roots in large round patches.

?Alopecia Areata ? a mysterious hair loss that can range from small patches to complete hair loss. Some believe there is a genetic component here, as well as a connection to a nervous/ immune system condition in which the immune system itself attacks the root hairs.

?Traction Alopecia ? comes from constant pulling of the hair too tight in hairstyles ranging from braids to pigtails. This can damage the root, causing hair to fall out.

?Trichotillomania ? the compulsion to pull one's own hair out causing patchy hair loss.

Some of the most common causes of temporary hair loss in children requiring short-term hair replacement solutions are:

?Emotional stress, high fever or flu ?can sometimes cause hair to fall out until the next growth phase when it begins to grow back.

?Chemotherapy/radiation treatments ? this temporary form of Alopecia is caused by the intensive medications used to kill the Cancer.

Whatever the reason for the , it can take months, sometimes years for the hair to grow back the way it was before, making it necessary to utilize a short or long-term hair replacement solution. Human hair goes through growth cycles during which new hair begins to grow in after hair falls out, unless there one of the above conditions precludes regrowth. Normally that includes only 10% of the hair at any one time. But when something interferes with regrowth, hair loss which seemed gradual at first can pick up speed until there is a significant loss on the child's scalp.

So what is a parent to do? After treating the medical issues present, the emotional issues will inevitably crop up. Children do not like to feel different from their peers. Replacing the lost hair with hair pieces or wigs can be difficult if the hair pieces are poorly made. That's why most parents will spare no expense to make sure their child looks as natural as possible.

Wigs are one option. This might be especially good for a short-term hair loss. But wigs have their drawbacks. They are not attached to the head. They are hot to wear, and they do not appreciate contact sports or dips in the pool, lake or shower. These are the very activities children thrive on. So for kids, wigs can be one hair replacement option, but perhaps not the best.

are another fine hair replacement option. There are many hair replacement companies out there who sell hair systems on the internet with fit-them-yourself templates available on-line. These hair systems are less expensive but often disposable after three or four months of wear. Often these types of hair systems do not fit correctly and end up looking cheap or unnatural.

A thorough search of the Internet, however, will lead you to the more high-end hair systems from hair replacement companies that have local clinics, custom fittings and hair systems made of human hair tied on breathable lace caps that look not only natural, they are comfortable to wear. These full or partial hair systems are fixed to the scalp with some kind of adhesive that is usually worry-free for three months or more. There can be occasional intermittent clinic visits to retie hair lost through shedding, but the cost for these is usually around $100 ? cheaper than investing in yet another disposable, cheap hair system. Children wearing these hair systems can bathe, swim and play hard in them without the worry that they will fall off or come loose. Essentially, they can live the life they had before they lost their hair and feel good about themselves at the same time. Clearly, that kind of peace of mind does not have a price tag.

is a Hair Replacement expert who generously shares his expertise with hair loss sufferers and hair replacement wearers. For more information about the opportunities and pitfalls of , please visit:

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Alopecia and Hair Replacement for African Americans

Hair loss can be devastating, whether you are male or female, regardless of race or ethnicity. Typical hair loss among men crosses the boundaries of race and culture. However, African American hair poses a particular set of challenges with regard to hair loss. Hair replacement clinics across the country note that while black men seem to suffer the same sort of male pattern baldness and challenges as Caucasian men, African American men and women seem to suffer a higher percentage of problems with hair loss for a variety other, culturally specific reasons. solutions to African American hair loss can be equally complex.

Every year, thousands of men and women of African descent struggle to resolve issues that have left them with receding hairlines and patchy balding spots. Many of these causes are due to hairstyling techniques that have become part of the African American culture, such as:

?Traction Alopecia ? caused by braiding too tightly, long term use of corn-rows or tight pig tails in hair. This causes a constant tug on the root of the hair which eventually not only pulls it out, but can cause scarring on the scalp.

?Use of Chemical relaxers that contain lye (the same ingredient used in products like Draino) can actually cause chemical burns on the skin. Even the more natural relaxers use chemicals harsh enough to cause a burn.

?Use of hot combs or irons on the hair too close to the scalp, causing burns and scarring.

?Bleach?again, a harsh chemical not intended to come in contact with the delicate skin of the scalp.

What many people don't realize is that all of these procedures can, if done improperly, cause permanent hair loss due to scarring of the scalp. Once hair follicles are scarred, there is no resurrecting them. That hair is gone for good. Hair regrowing products like Propecia and Minoxidil will not regrow hair here.

experts understand the emotional toll this kind of loss can take on somebody suffering from hair loss. Not only does hair loss cause embarrassment, the self-esteem can take a nose dive as well. Janelle, a twenty-four year old African American woman, noticed that her hair had begun to recede around her hairline. She had worn pig tails as a child and as an adult, had begun chemically relaxing her hair. To save money, she decided to do it at home. The chemicals burned her scalp. Alarmed, Janelle discovered several bald patches the size of a half dollar on her crown. She saw her doctor and learned that Traction Alopecia was responsible for her hair loss around her hairline, and chemical burns were responsible for the now permanent hair loss on her crown. He sent her to a hair replacement specialist.

Janelle was dealing with three problems: Bald patches on the scalp and a receding hairline; but more importantly, her biggest problem was the toll the hair loss took on her self-esteem and emotional well-being. She considered surgical hair replacement, but this is a complex issue when it comes to black hair. Why?

?The cost is prohibitively high. And quite often, if simply doesn't work. Hair does not regrow in the density required.

?The formation of keloid tissue. Keloid scarring is a condition to which black skin is often prone. While skin on the scalp rarely forms keloid scar tissue, the skin on the forehead and face often will. So if a receding hairline is the issue, often surgical transplantation is not an option on black skin.

?Grafting is tricky - Black hair is curly not only above the skin but below, at the root as well. So the grafting of individual hairs is complex and often impossible.

In the end, she found an expert who specialized in high end hair replacement systems to restore her hair to it original state. Using breathable lace mesh and hand tied hairs, the hair replacement specialist matched Janelle's hair with real hair, then filled in the missing spots and her hairline with several to extend her hairline. The new hair blended in flawlessly with Janelle's own hair.

This hair system was not cheap either. A high end hair system that is virtually undetectable costs somewhere around $2500. But let's face it, nothing good is ever cheap. Nor was the hair system without maintenance. She had to adjust the color monthly and occasionally have new hair tied to replace hair that routinely shed from the hair system. But in the end, she couldn't be happier with her full head of hair. Restoring her hair has, made her less self-conscious and given her back her confidence. It's hard to put a price tag on that. Every year, hair replacement experts help thousands of people just like Janelle reclaim their lives with the help of hair replacement systems.

There are other hair replacement options available to those with spotty hair loss like Janelle. Hair extensions made with clips are temporary or removable hair systems that don't require glue to be fixed to the scalp. These are also made with high quality human hair in China and can blend invisibly with your own hair. If you have experienced hair loss and are looking for options, study hair replacement systems on the internet. Look for hair systems that are virtually undetectable, made of human hair, and have local clinics available for custom fitting.