At The Harley Street Hair Clinic, we’re experts in hair loss and hair restoration procedures. We get a number of different enquiries every single day from people of all ages. Today, we’re focusing on hair loss within teenagers, what you should do and if you should be worried.
Determine the cause of your hair loss
As a teenager losing your hair can seem quite daunting and a lot of people will notice some degree of hair loss and jump straight to the conclusion that they’re going bald. It is really important to first remember that not all types of hair loss are permanent, and this could be a temporary phase you’re going through.
For example, you could be experiencing hair loss due to stress, medication, a change in lifestyle or diet – all of which could for some, cause hair loss. Your hair growth cycle can be altered by changes in your body such as hormonal changes, stress on the body, a change in nutrients, and these changes can lead to some degree of hair loss.
Male pattern baldness, on the other hand, is a permanent type of hair loss that currently has no cure. Male pattern baldness can affect up to 70% of men. This type of hair loss usually follows a pattern of a receding hairline, the hair on the crown and temples begin to thin leaving a horseshoe shape around the head.
Male pattern baldness happens due to the hair follicles shrinking because of the effects of DHT, this hormone breaks down the hair growth cycle and shortens the growth phase of the hair, whilst the shedding phase remains the same. This causes hair to fall out faster than it can grow.
We think the most important step to take if you’re experiencing hair loss at a young age is to determine the cause, you could visit your local GP for advice or see a hair loss specialist. This way you can see if it’s a temporary cause of hair loss or something that could need more attention.
A change in your hairline isn’t always a receding hairline
One of the biggest concerns we see from our younger readers is how they’ve seen a change in their hairline. We often get photos sent in from teenagers who claim that their hairline is ‘receding’, however, this isn’t always the case.
In your teenage years, you’ll notice several different changes to your body which you’ll see as normal – and your hairline is no different. You’ll see your hairline mature. A maturing hairline can become slightly higher and the most obvious change will happen during your teenage years, your juvenile hairline will change from having slightly rounded edges and being quite low, to becoming slightly higher up and less defined.
This is a completely normal change, although it might be a shock at first and you will notice the change it does not mean your hairline is receding and will continue you move further back straight away.
Document your hair loss
If you’re worried about your hair loss and you think that it’s thinning or receding more than normal it’s a good idea to document it, we recommend taking a photo of your hairline or affected area regularly, this way you’ll be able to see how much it has changed over time. This will also help any hair loss professional have a better understanding of how your hair has changed over time.
Talk to a hair loss professional
If you’re still worried about your hair loss it’s important to discuss it with a hair loss professional. At the Harley Street Hair Clinic, our hair loss experts will be able to determine what is causing your hair loss and then discuss different treatment options with you, this could be hair loss medication or a hair restoration treatment.
Can a teenager get a hair transplant?
This is dependent on a case to case basis, and a full consultation will be needed to discuss your options. It’s important to remember that at such a young age your hair future hair loss can be unpredictable, which sometimes means it can be hard to plan a hair transplant that is going to age well.
Over time your hair loss should slow down and it becomes easier to predict future hair loss and in turn, allow us to design a hair transplant that will last much longer. Due to this, at times we will advise that a patient comes back to us in a couple of years.
If you would like more information on hair loss or our hair transplants please contact us today for a no-obligation consultation.