What is the cause of hair loss in young people and how is it treated?

Investigating the cause of hair loss in young people

The most important reasons that cause hair loss in young people are:

Hereditary and genetic hair loss

Male pattern baldness and androgenic alopecia are called hereditary hair loss. This type of hair loss is genetic and in which the hair growth phase is reduced. In this case, the hair on the temples and front of the head begins to recede and thin. After a while, the hairline goes back so far that eventually the scalp appears and baldness occurs. Hair loss genes can be inherited from both the paternal and maternal families. Of course, keep in mind that if most of your family is bald, there is still no reason for you to be bald in the future. There is usually no way to inherit hair loss other than hair transplantation.

Hormonal disorders

One of the causes of hair loss in young people, especially women, is hormonal disorders. Menstruation, pregnancy, menopause and the use of birth control pills may be factors in hair loss. Pregnancy hair loss can be considered normal to some extent, but if you continue to have hair loss for a long time after delivery, you should see a doctor to find out the cause.

Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) is made from testosterone by an enzyme called 5-alpha reductase. It can also be obtained from DHEA, a hormone that is more common in women. DHT is found in the skin, hair follicles and prostate. DHT function and the sensitivity of hair follicles to it are the cause of hair loss. In addition, thyroid dysfunction can lead to hair loss.

Getting some diseases

If you feel that you have abnormal hair loss, be sure to see your doctor for further tests. Because you may have a certain disease and you are not aware of it. Hypothyroidism, anemia, fungal infections of the skin, lupus, MS, gastrointestinal disorders and some other diseases can lead to hair loss. If these diseases are treated, hair loss will resolve on its own.

Use of some medications

Some medications have side effects, one of which may be hair loss. For example, drugs used to treat cancer can lead to hair loss. Chemotherapy and radiotherapy are also factors in hair loss in people with cancer. People with depression, anxiety, and even high blood pressure may take medications that cause hair loss. By stopping taking these drugs, hair will resume its growth and new hair strands will replace the lost hair.

Stress and anxiety

Could stress and anxiety be the cause of hair loss in young people? Yes; When you are in a very stressful situation, different hormones are released to take control of things. In this case, the balance of hormones may be disturbed and this will cause temporary hair loss in the person. If a person is constantly stressed at work or at home, hair loss may become permanent. This type of hair loss can be monetary. In these cases, the help of a psychologist and psychiatrist should be sought.

Improper diets for obesity or weight loss

What you eat will definitely affect your hair growth. When you follow unhealthy diets to lose or gain weight, you will definitely experience hair loss. Hair follicles need all the nutrients as well as proteins to grow. If you eliminate one of the main food groups, hair loss will come to you. So if you need a diet or obesity, be sure to see a doctor.

Improper nutrition causes hair loss in young people

Studies show that deficiencies in nutrients, including vitamins, minerals, and amino acids, increase the risk of hair loss. Young people who do not eat well and regularly eat fast foods and fruits and vegetables do not have a special place in their diet, are more likely to experience abnormal hair loss. Lack of B vitamins (such as biotin), zinc deficiency, selenium deficiency and… are among the causes of hair loss. It is better to eat more home-cooked foods and eat fruits and vegetables several times a day as a snack to help keep your body healthy and your hair healthy.

Lack of proper hair care

If you do not take care of your hair properly and do not use products that are suitable for your hair type, do not expect your hair loss to increase. Not washing your hair properly with the right shampoo, constantly tying it with hair, using too much of a hair dryer, hair straightener or hair wax can all damage your hair and increase hair loss. Coloring and dechlorination are also harmful factors to the hair that cause dry and brittle hair and cause hair loss.

Emotional shock

You may have heard that when a loved one dies, those around him or her suffer from hair loss for a long time. Emotional and nervous shock causes a person to suddenly see an increase in hair loss. In these cases, many people even get gray hair. Normally, this type of hair loss will stop after a few months.

Smoking and hookah

You may think that smoking is just the enemy of your lungs and heart. But it is not. Studies show that smoking and hookah also damage the health of your skin and hair. Smoking reduces blood flow to the scalp and causes hair loss by damaging hair follicles. Quitting smoking and hookah will help you maintain the health of your skin and hair more than ever.

Polycystic ovary syndrome

This complication leads to increased levels of androgens or male sex hormones in the female body. Testosterone is also produced in women, but if it is overproduced, it can disrupt the menstrual cycle and also lead to acne and thinning hair. Lack of treatment of hormonal problems in the body increases hair loss. To solve this problem, you should see a gynecologist.

Another cause of hair loss in young people

In addition to the above, the following factors also lead to hair loss:

• Tension alopecia: Occurs due to repeated stress and constant tying of hair in the form of a ponytail or braid.
• Trichotillomania is a mental disorder in which a person feels a strong need to pluck their hair. Symptoms of the disease usually begin between the ages of 10 and 13.
• Infectious ringworm: It is a fungal infection that causes inflammation, leading to scalp ulcers and hair loss.
• Telogen effluvium: Stress, illness, childbirth or weight loss are some of the causes of this complication that leads to hair loss. Of course, it is often temporary and disappears.

Can puberty cause hair loss in teens?

Puberty causes fluctuations in the body’s hormone levels and potentially affects hair growth. Hereditary hair loss can start and progress gradually from puberty, but is more common in boys.

Strategies for treating hair loss in young people

We investigated the cause of hair loss in young people. The following strategies can be used to treat this problem:

Use a healthy diet

To treat hair loss, you must pay special attention to your nutrition. Your diet should be such that it contains all the nutrients and food groups. Eat more fruits and vegetables and avoid foods that are high in harmful fats to help keep your hair healthy. You can also get help from multivitamin pills or hair strengthening supplements.

Treatment of hereditary hair loss in young people

In order to treat or control this type of hair loss, minoxidil, finasteride, spironolactone and PRP can be used or hair transplants can be performed.

Improve alopecia areata

This type of hair loss, which in many cases is caused by stress and emotional shock, causes coin hair loss. Corticosteroids can be used for treatment in the form of injections, ointments or oral medications.

Principled and correct hair care

Try to like the natural color of your hair and go for less color and dechlorination. Also, choose the right shampoo for your hair and take care of your personal hygiene. Avoid regular use of hair dryers, hair straighteners and hair conditioners and do not tie your hair tightly.

Treatment of hormonal problems

Hormone disorders in men and women should be treated under the supervision of a physician. For example, for polycystic ovary syndrome, your doctor may prescribe birth control pills. If thyroid dysfunction has caused hair loss, treatment should be started with medications such as levothyroxine.

Hair mesotherapy

To improve hair growth, you can use modern and advanced treatments such as mesotherapy. In mesotherapy, nutrients and drugs are delivered to the hair follicles by injection into the scalp and improve hair growth. Usually, a person has to undergo mesotherapy for about 10 sessions at intervals prescribed by the doctor to achieve the desired result.

Hair transplantation

Finally, if hair growth does not improve with the above solutions and hair loss continues, hair transplantation can be tried. Most people respond positively to this treatment.

last word

Hair loss is normal with age, but if it intensifies at a young age, it is a concern and a solution must be found. First, the cause of hair loss in young people should be investigated and then the necessary treatment should be done. If more than 100 strands of hair fall out daily, see your doctor to find out the cause and seek treatment.