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Question: My child started losing her hair. What should I do?
Answer: If your child has recently started losing his or her hair, please see your primary care doctor or dermatologist, if you haven't done so already. It is important for your child to have a thorough medical history and physical exam. The majority of causes of hair loss can be determined by a thorough history and physical exam.
Supplementary laboratory tests include, if needed:
CBC (check blood counts to rule out anemia as a cause)
Iron studies (low iron levels may contribute to hair loss)
Thyroid studies (low acting thyroid may trigger hair loss)
Skin biopsy (often a last resort in children, but a skin biopsy can give you a lot of information as to what is going on under the skin; certain causes of alopecia show specific patterns as seen under the microscope).
Question: I was advised by my pediatrician NOT to get the live flu vaccine for her daughter with au since aa is classified as an autoimmune disease, and immuno-compromised kids are not supposed to get live vaccine. Is this true? What are your thoughts?
Answer: Alopecia patients are not immunocompromised. safe to get vaccine!
Answers provided by Dr. Jeff Miller, MD, Associate Professor of Dermatology, Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, PA
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