This may be a weird question, but my son has a bald spot on the side of his head near his hairline and I'm wondering what to do about it. We recently shaved his head (the lady used a size 3 razor, if that helps) hoping to get it all evened out and to get his little baby hairs cut. Well, I don't think his baby hairs by his bald spot were cut, because they are really short. They look like baby hairs still because they're really light colored (from when he was born) and they're really thin. Should I try to cut them, like shave them, or just leave it be? Anyway, I hope this makes sense. Any advice is appreciated.
Thanks for all the wonderful responses!! I would've never even thought about most of the things that were mentioned. As I examine the spot more, I do see there is hair there. It's just really light and short. I'm going to let it be for awhile and see if his sleeping position or head rubbing is affecting it any. I'm also glad to know what to look for if it is medically being caused. Thanks again!
My sis in law has a 3 yr old who has developed a bald spot on the back of his head because he bangs his head against his car seat constantly (it's his little Obsessive Compulsive Disorder). She just leaves it and eventually it will grow back (especially if he stops banging his head). I wouldn't be concerned unless it gets bigger. Some kids hair just grows weird. L.
If he usually sleeps on his side, the bald spot may just be from rubbing his head against the pillow. My kids got odd bald spots on the backs of their heads from their pillow contact, and your kiddo sounds like he's having the same thing. If this isn't the case, then you can simply grow his hair out to cover the bald spot. Try having him vary his sleep position if you are worried.
Most bald spots are nothing to worry about but there are some people who are just born with one and it never grows in. My BIL has one. If the spot is truly hairless, no peach fuzz, then this is a real possibility. If this is the case or a case of "Congenital Alopecia Aeriata"(sp) then then there is nothing you can do about it other than always keep the hair long enough to cover it up. You can certainly talk to your doctor if you are concerned but if there isn't any redness or flakiness there is very little chance that there is anything that can be done. It's really no big deal, lots of people have small bald spots and it doesn't hurt anything. If there is peach fuzz then it is perfectly possible that it will just grow in later.
if more spots appear, i would definitely look into alopecia. you could trim the hairs so they are the same length as the rest, but in my own experience with alopecia, cutting the hair doesn't help it grow. actually at times with me, shaving has resulted in the hair not returning at all. alopecia is something that can sometimes be postponed a little by medication, but eventually the hair loss can't be stopped. on the other hand, it could just be the one spot that grows differently or that he is rubbing or pulling like other moms have suggested, and not alopecia at all. just watch for more spots and try not to show concern because your son will notice and worry as well.
I think that cutting it the same length would really help. If he continues to get him into the doctor to see if there is something health wise causing it.
Have you ever noticed him pulling the hair there, like a nervous habit? I have seen this behavior before. Maybe try observing him, and see if he pulls or rubs that spot for comfort or when he is nervous, anxious etc. Or it could just be that the hair there is slow to grow. I'd just wait to see if it fills in. Good luck!
It may be a birth mark. I have known several people (including one child)who have had birth marks on their scalp, and though none of the spots were bald, the hair that grew there was very light in color compared to the color of the rest of their hair.
Hello
Well if in fact your toddler has a bald spot and it is by the hairline and is round it is possible he has a Auto Immune Disease called Alopecia Areata. The web site is www.naaf.org. 5 million people in America actually suffer from this. Basically your body thinks your hair is a invasion and so your white blood cells attack it surprising their growth. My daughter got her first bald spot at 18 months. We went to the dermatologist and he gave us some cream to apply and said there is no cure but to see what happened. The spot went away and she didn't have any more until 3-1/2 then she started getting more. They are perfect round patches the size of nickels. My daughter gets one and then another then they eventually merge into one big one. Although this is hard as a mother you do not want your child to be different and you definitely dont want your daughter bald this condition is not life threatening. There are a few different types that the web site will tell you about. Anyway you usually dont notice the spots till a hair cut or something of that nature. I would make a appointment with the dermatologist because most likely he will get more and I would check out this web site. Also check out this news clip. This is my daughter raising awareness a few weeks ago. If Alopecia is what it turns out to be and you are in CO we have a wonderful kids group that meets and offer tons of support to help. http://www.thedenverchannel.com/health/15595788/detail.html
Good Luck
It probably isn't something to worry about too much right now, unless it gets worse. Young children have wierd hair growth. I had a friend whose daughter was bald until she was 2. If you want to shave his head, you can. It may help to even the hair out. If he is rubbing that side of his head against something causing the baldness, shaving his head won't change anything. I shaved both my boys hair when they were babies and it helped with some of the thin spots and got rid of the baby hair, but this may not work for you. if you are really concerned about it, talk to your doctor.good luck!
