Teen Hair Loss

Loosing hair is hard for anyone, but teen hair loss is even more difficult considering the social and psychological pressures teens face daily. Most people don’t think about teenage hair loss (baldness is something we associate with midlife and beyond). So when it happens it’s surprising and worrisome.

Causes of Teen Hair Loss:

Teenage hair loss can be caused by several common conditions:

Tinea Capits: This condition better known as ringworm breaks hair shafts. It is not, in fact, a worm at all but a fungus. The most common marker for ringworm is a round bald patch with tiny stubble at the scalp, which may also itch or develop scales. Ringworm is treated with an antifungal medication taken orally over 8 weeks time.

Alopecia Areata: Among the causes of teen hair loss, this one is a bit of a mystery. Hair will begin falling out in patches for no apparent reason. It’s not a harmful condition and most teenagers who experience it grow their hair back in a year. When it does grow back, sometimes it’s white, then slowly returns to it’s natural color. Thus far dermatologists have been unable to discern why the hair starts falling out, but sometimes they may choose to try and treat the condition with medication or topical applications.

Damaged Hair: Teenage hair loss can come about due to over-treatment with dies, perms, teasing, blow-drying, bleaching, etc. Hair is actually delicate, so heat and chemicals, or styles that pull on the hair, can cause it to fall out. The easiest way to resolve this problem is to be kind to your hair. If you get hair treatments pace them out so the hair has time to get healthy again. It can take about 4 months for hair to recoup from damages.

Hair Pulling: Many people aren’t even aware of when they’re fiddling with their own hair. The way to recognize this nervous habit is looking at where the bald patches lie. A right-handed person will have patches on the right side of their head (and left-handed persons on the left).

Stress Loss: Telogen effluvium is a condition that occurs 2-4 months after sickness, severe diets, or a large increase in stress. Hair that had been growing goes into a resting stage then begins falling out, which thins the hair all over. Given a little time, hair will begin re-growing normally.

Illness, Hormonal Imbalance or Medication: Some illnesses cause teen hair loss including undetected diabetes and lupus. Additionally some medications such as diet pills can cause hair to fall out

Vitamin Deficiency: Bad eating habits can cause teenage hair loss. If a person’s body doesn’t get the minerals, proteins, etc. that facilitate hair growth, it begins to fall out. Vegetarians are at a higher risk for teen hair loss because they may not get enough protein.

Treatment:

The cures for teenage hair loss varies according to the root of the problem. For example, if a medication’s side effect caused the hair loss, your physician can offer a different prescription. (Don’t ever stop taking a medication without discussing it first with your doctor). However, because of the social awkwardness, many teens prefer to combine any cure suggested with a topical product to help re-grow hair more quickly.

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