Hair Loss in Teenagers

Hair loss in teens is often a sign of an underlying issue, like a vitamin deficiency or hormonal imbalance. Fortunately, hair loss in teens is usually temporary and the hair will grow back when the problem is corrected.

What causes hair loss in teenage females?

1. Medication - Hair loss is a common side effect for many medications that teenage girls take, including medicine to treat acne and ADHD. Birth control pills can also cause hair thinning.
2. Traction Alopecia - Too-tight ponytails or braids and heavy hair extensions can permanently damage hair follicles, causing permanent hair loss. Loosen up hairstyles, and be sure to rotate your looks to avoid breakage.
3. Hormones- Hormone-related illnesses like thyroid disease, lupus, and polycystic ovarian syndrome tend to emerge during the teenage years. Unfortunately, many of these endocrinal illnesses can cause hair loss.
4. Over-styling - Chemical-based treatments like bleaching, relaxing, dyeing, and perming can cause hair to fall out. Using heat tools on a high heat setting too often can also cause hair strands to break off.
5. Alopecia Areata - Like their male counterparts, teenage girls can also suffer from alopecia areata. Long hair can often disguise bald spots.
6. Trichotillomania- Teenage girls can also have trichotillomania, resulting in compulsively pulling out their own hair. This behavioural disorder can cause bald patches on the scalp. With treatment, hair will grow back.
7. Poor Nutrition- Not eating enough healthy foods can cause teenage girls to lose their hair. Frequent dieting and over-exercising can also contribute to hair loss.
8. Anaemia - Anaemia, or an iron deficiency, is a common root of hair loss for teenage girls. If you think you may have anaemia, speak to your doctor about taking an iron supplement.
9. Stress - Social, school, family, and work obligations can pile up for teenage girls, causing mountains of stress. Unfortunately, stress is one of the leading causes of hair loss for teenage girls.

What could be the causes of hair loss in teenage and males?

1. Medication - Commonly prescribed medications for teenagers like antibiotics and those for acne and depression can have the unpleasant side effect of hair loss.
2. Alopecia Areata - It’s an autoimmune disorder in which the body attacks its own hair follicles. Alopecia areata is characterised by round bald patches on the scalp. This can happen to anyone at any age. In most cases, hair loss is not permanent and will eventually grow back.
3. Traction Alopecia - With more teenage boys wearing their hair in buns and braids, traction alopecia is becoming more common for teenage boys. Traction alopecia occurs when too-tight hairstyles stress and damage hair follicles, resulting in hair loss. Headgear like sports helmets or headphones are further causes of traction alopecia.
4. Poor Eating Habits - Teenagers don’t always have the best eating habits. Eating fast food or processed foods instead of whole, healthy foods rich in essential nutrients can contribute to thinning hair. Crash diets and over-exercising can also cause hair loss.
5. Androgenic Alopecia - Androgenic alopecia, also known as male pattern baldness, can begin in the teen years. For males, androgenic hair loss is typically categorized by a receding hairline or thinning at the crown. Androgenic hair loss is genetic, but if caught early, can often be treated with some success.
6. Stress - Physical and emotional changes of adolescence, plus school and work-related responsibilities can cause a lot of stress for teenagers. Unfortunately, stress is a major contributing factor for hair thinning.

What to do next?

The first thing to do is the speak to your GP, they can help assess whether your hair loss is caused by an underlying issue, and can give you a treatment.  If your hair loss is caused by stress then try and engage is exercise that can naturally reduce stress, such as yoga.

Diet is an important part to help improve the health of your hair and body, so try and eat more food rich in proteins, fruits, vegetable and healthy fats. Avoid fad diets and cleanses, as these can cause hair to fall out.

To fill in any gaps of your diet, take a supplement that supports regular hair growth like our HairMax Supplements. Our natural vitamin complex is blended with clinically proven hair strengtheners to help support healthier hair. HairMax Dietary Supplements provide essential nutrients to help your hair look its best!