[Hair diseases in childhood]

This paper focuses on four important hair diseases mainly occurring in children. Trichotillomania is the most relevant differential diagnosis of alopecia areata in childhood. Meticulous inspection and lack of telogen hairs in the trichogram from the margin of the lesion usually are sufficient for differentiation. The trichogram also plays a significant role for the diagnosis of the loose anagen hair (loose anagen syndrome), a fairly new, but not rare entity, especially in distinguishing it from telogen effluvium. Five different types of clinical presentation are distinguished in tinea capitis. For the necessary systemic therapy; the new antimycotics terbinafine and itraconazole represent good alternatives to the well-tried griseofulvin. Several effective therapeutic options are also available for head lice, the most frequent parasitary infestation of school age. However, because of its neurotoxicity and the increasing problem of lice resistance lindane should not be used any longer for the treatment of head lice.