When Teenagers Experience Male-Pattern ... - News and Society

While male-pattern baldness primarily occurs in adult men, there are instances when teenage boys can experience the disorder. It can be highly traumatic for a teenager to begin losing his hair. They can be obsessively focused on their appearance to begin with and going bald can add to this already stressful situation. They will want to seek immediate medical assistance to stop the condition from worsening.

When to be Concerned

Hair loss is not uncommon. In fact, everyone loses up to 100 head hairs every day. This is a natural process that involves old hair falling out to make room for new hair. It is not a cause for alarm. But if you are losing more than that or your hair seems to be coming out in clumps, you need to see a doctor to make sure there is nothing seriously wrong. Underlying medical conditions can cause hair loss in teenage boys.

Causes of Hair Loss in Teenagers

Teenage boys can experience hair loss for a variety of reasons. A common culprit is scalp ringworm which is a contagious infection that can cause permanent hair loss. Certain hairstyles or styling routines such as braiding or dyeing the hair can also result in hair loss in teenagers. The most challenging to treat is male-pattern baldness which has been known to develop in teenage boys by age 15.

Types of Hair Loss Treatment

The cause of the hair loss determines the appropriate treatment regimen. The most popular treatment for male-pattern baldness is with oral medications known as 5-alpha reductase inhibitors. These drugs effectively stop the production of a particular hormone that interferes with hair growth. Results range from stopping hair loss to actual hair regrowth. There are many factors that determine the effectiveness of a treatment on a particular patient.

Seeking Treatment

Looks are important to all teenagers. Because of the impact on their self-esteem, teenagers are more likely to seek medical attention for hair loss sooner than their adult counterparts. Unfortunately, teens must be at least 18 years old to be treated with propecia. Hair loss concealers that cover the balding area may be a temporary option until teenagers are old enough for medical treatment.

This article looks at how male-pattern baldness can impact teenagers who seek medical assistance but cannot be prescribed propecia until they are eighteen. Fortunately, there are steps they can take to address their balding disorder.

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