What causes patchy hair loss in infants?

In general, patchy hair loss in infants may be caused by natural shedding during growth and development, friction-induced alopecia, seborrheic dermatitis, alopecia areata, folliculitis, or other reasons. Treatment may include general care and medication under the guidance of a doctor. Specific analysis is as follows:

1. Natural Shedding During Growth and Development

After birth, an infant's scalp hair undergoes a natural shedding process, which may result in patchy bald spots—commonly known as "neonatal alopecia." No special treatment is required; maintaining good scalp hygiene is sufficient.

2. Friction-Induced Alopecia

Repeated friction can damage hair follicles and lead to hair loss. An infant’s scalp is delicate and particularly susceptible to friction, which may cause patchy baldness. Using soft pillowcases and clothing to minimize friction is recommended. No specific medication is needed.

3. Seborrheic Dermatitis

Seborrheic dermatitis is usually caused by microbial infection, poor dietary habits, or similar factors. When it occurs on an infant’s scalp, the skin may develop scales or crusts. As the condition progresses, it can lead to patchy hair loss, often accompanied by symptoms such as redness, oily scaling, and itching. Patients may use medications such as ketoconazole shampoo, roxithromycin granules, or selenium sulfide shampoo as directed by a physician.

4. Alopecia Areata

Alopecia areata is hair loss triggered by genetic and environmental factors. If an infant inherits the gene for alopecia areata from their parents or remains in a state of prolonged anxiety or stress, they may develop patchy bald spots. This condition is typically characterized by round or oval patches of hair loss and requires treatment under medical supervision with medications such as triamcinolone acetonide injection, cyclosporine oral solution, or compound glycyrrhizin injection.

5. Folliculitis

Folliculitis is usually an inflammatory condition caused by bacterial infection of hair follicles, commonly due to Staphylococcus aureus. Inflammation may damage the follicles, leading to the aforementioned hair loss symptoms in infants, along with localized redness, swelling, and pain. Under a doctor’s guidance, patients may use medications such as cefuroxime axetil dry suspension or cephalexin granules for treatment.

In daily life, it is important to keep the infant’s scalp clean and dry, and avoid using irritating hair and scalp care products.