Too Young for 3 Year Old to Have Hair Treatments?

My 3 years old son begin lose 3 spot of hair 6 months ago. Local specialist doctor determined he had alopecia areata and suggested to wait and observe becase he is too young. Hair loss problem did not stop. Up till 3 months ago, he had lost more 70% of his hair. Doctor still suggested to wait and observe because his young age even though explaining to me the few possible treatments. My son condition did not improve nor getting worse since then. Should my 3 years old son take possible treatment or is it too risky for such young children to take treatment?

Alopecia areata is an autoimmune condition where your body’s immune system mistakenly thinks it’s own hair follicle is a foreign invader, like a bacteria or a virus. It is diagnosed under a microscope by a biopsy of the scalp. Although it is natural to be concerned about unnatural hair loss in a 3 year old, alopecia areata is not a sign of a serious disease. It is more of a social and emotional disturbance. While some treatment may be available, it is not a cure or a guarantee that it will work. There is no permanent cure for alopecia areata. In addition, the treatment in itself may be more harmful to your child than it does good. For instance, steroids are sometimes used to treat alopecia areata by decreasing your body’s immune system. It is not hard to realize that this may not be the best choice when the main purpose of your body’s immune system is to fight infections and diseases. In short, it is a balancing game of choosing the lesser evil. Thus, for your son, taking the conservative approach of waiting and observing may be in your son’s best interest. Hoping that your son’s hair may grow back on its own (and not be permanent) is the best you can do with this disease.