Hair Loss in Teenage Males: Causes & Treatments You Need to Know

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Hair loss is more common in older adults, but younger and even teenage males can also experience it. Data shows that 16% of men 18 to 29 years old have hair loss.

Teenagers can experience it due to many reasons such as genetics, malnutrition, hormonal imbalance and certain medical conditions.

There are various hair loss treatments. You are prescribed the one that addresses the root cause of the problem. For instance, if your hair loss is because of your genetics, you may be prescribed medications like Minoxidil but if it’s because of a hormonal deficiency you may be given a hormone therapy.

Let’s take a look at the main causes of teenage hair loss and see what treatments are available for them.

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11 Causes of hair loss in teenage males

A teenage male can notice hair loss due to any of the following causes.

1. Hereditary hair loss (Androgenetic alopecia)

Androgenetic alopecia, or male-pattern hair loss or male pattern baldness , is one of the most common reasons for early hair loss in men. It occurs when men on your mother’s side or father’s side also have hair loss problems, and now you have received their baldness gene. Your hairline will start receding and develop a U, V, or M shape.

Unfortunately, hereditary hair loss cannot be treated. However, you can slow it down by using certain medications.

A more permanent solution would be a hair transplant, in which hair follicles are removed from one part of your body and transplanted to the balding site.

2. Alopecia areata

Alopecia areata is an autoimmune condition in which your immune system accidentally starts attacking healthy hair follicles. Your hair will start falling out in patches.

Teenagers with alopecia areata lose body, facial and head hair. It affects 2% of people and can develop even during childhood.

3. Lack of proper nutrition

Having excess or deficiency of certain nutrients can cause hair loss in teenage males. Some important nutrients that you need for healthy hair growth are vitamin D, vitamin A, vitamin C, iron, zinc, and niacin.

You can become malnourished if you do not eat enough or eat too much. You may also develop this condition if you have a digestive system problem or an eating disorder.

4. Thyroid disorders

Different thyroid gland problems can lead to extensive hair loss in teenagers. When your thyroid gland becomes overactive, you make more of certain hormones; when it becomes inactive, you develop thyroid hormone deficiencies.

Both conditions are equally damaging to your hair. They cause hair thinning leading to hair loss. However, you can regrow your lost hair by tackling the thyroid disorder on time.

5. Hormonal imbalance

Hormonal imbalance has become quite common in teenage males these days due to multiple reasons. It can cause serious health problems such as delayed puberty and sometimes hair loss.

The most important hormone that affects hair growth in teenage males is dihydrotestosterone (DHT). It is a derivative of testosterone and is produced when 5-alpha reductase enzyme reacts with testosterone.

DHT is a powerful hormone. It develops secondary sexual characteristics in teenagers, but having too much of it can shrink the hair follicles and cause hair loss.

You can treat DHT-related hair loss by using DHT inhibitors or blockers that reduce DHT synthesis or block its attachment to follicle receptors.

Testosterone deficiency can also cause hair loss in men. Testosterone is a male sex hormone required to turn boys into men. It plays several important roles in the body, including bone mass maintenance, body fat distribution, sperm production, etc.

When you become testosterone deficient, you experience certain symptoms, such as loss of lean muscle mass and poor sexual function. You may also start losing hair because your hair needs testosterone for growth.

Getting testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) might be a good option if your hair loss is due to low testosterone levels.

6. Poor hair care

A majority of teenagers are influenced by social media celebrities. They try to follow them and experiment with different hair procedures/products and hair styling methods just to look fashionable and trendy.

Regularly treating hair with harsh chemicals and using damaging heat can cause hair breakage and hair fall.

Hence, you should avoid them as much as you can to protect your hair and keep them in a healthy condition for years to come.

7. Medications

Hair loss can be a side effect of certain medications. So, when you take those medications, your risk of losing hair increases. Some examples of these medications include cholesterol-lowering drugs, chemotherapy, antibiotics, acne medicines and antidepressants.

This kind of hair loss is temporary. In most cases, it can be reversed by stopping the intake of those medications.

8. Infections

Certain skin infections, such as ringworm and seborrheic dermatitis, can cause hair loss.

Ringworm is a fungal infection that causes itchy bald patches. The infection got its name due to the circular patches.

Seborrheic dermatitis is a skin condition that mainly affects scalps. Scaly, inflamed patches having dandruff develop on your scalp and oily areas like ears, sides of your nose, and eyebrows.

9. Lifestyle problems

Certain lifestyle habits can affect your hair growth.

For instance, if you do not get enough sleep, your body does not get enough time to repair itself and produce hormones required for hair growth. As a result, you start shedding hair. Smoking, stress, excessive alcohol consumption and drug abuse can also be damaging to your hair.

You can easily treat hair loss caused by poor habits by bringing healthy changes to your lifestyle.

10. Trichotillomania

It is a psychological condition in which the patient pulls out their hair. It can develop at any age; however, it is more common in 9 to 13-year-old children.

You should contact a mental health professional to get timely treatment. Proper medical care can help the person overcome this problem and regrow their hair.

11. Traction alopecia

Traction alopecia is a form of hair loss caused by the constantly pulling hair, mostly due to tight hairstyles like a ponytail or tight braid. It can also occur due to the weight of hair extensions and tight protective headwear.

How to prevent hair loss in teenagers?

Some of the hair problems like receding hairline, hair thinning and hair fall can be easily prevented with a few healthy lifestyle practices and good scalp care.

Here are the top evidence based tips to prevent hair loss in teenage guys:

• Eat a balanced diet consisting of protein, vitamins, iron, zinc and other essential nutrients.
• Manage stress through basic stress management exercises.
• Get a quality 8 hours sleep every night.
• Adopt gentle scalp care habits such as staying hydrated, using a soft towel and protecting scalp from pollutants.
• Keep your hair clean and tidy as excessive oil, sweat and dirt can accumulate and clog your hair follicles, leading to hair infections and similar issues.
• Be kind to your hair and avoid harsh hair treatments and products as much as you can.

These simple tips can have a great impact on your hair health if they are followed consistently. Still they are not a substitute for medical advice for other issues like patchy hair loss or bald spots development at a young age. See a doctor if your hair loss keeps getting worse.

Hair loss treatment: How to stop hair loss in teenage guys?

Teenage males can improve their hair growth by identifying the actual cause of the problem.

If you are experiencing teenage hair loss, you should get in contact with a dermatologist to determine why you have developed it. Your doctor will have a physical examination to find hair loss symptoms. Once they have diagnosed hair loss, they will have different tests to find out the real culprit behind this problem.

They will design your treatment plan based on the underlying cause of the problem. Here are the common hair loss treatment options prescribed based on the root cause:

Malnutrition: If your hair problem is because of a nutrient’s deficiency, your deficiency will be removed through a healthy diet and supplements.

Infection: You may be prescribed anti-infective medicines and hair shampoo.

Medications: If your hair thinning or hair fall is due to a medication you’re taking, your doctor may prescribe an alternative medication that’s not linked to hair loss.

Poor hair care and lifestyle: You may be prescribed certain hair care products and asked to improve your hair care and lifestyle habits.

Mental health issue: You will be asked to get a behavioural therapy.

Traction alopecia: Doctor will ask you to avoid tight hairstyles.

Genes: For genetic hair loss, Minoxidil is often prescribed. It is a topical medication applied to the scalp for a longer duration to manage results. Hair transplant provides a permanent solution to this problem.

Hormone deficiency: You may be prescribed a hormone therapy like TRT for testosterone deficiency.

Testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) for teenage males

TRT is given to males who are unable to produce endogenous testosterone due to an acquired or congenital issue. In this treatment, artificial testosterone is administered in the body to boost serum testosterone levels.

When your serum testosterone level increases, your low testosterone symptoms, such as hair loss, start disappearing. Your muscle mass, bone health, and sexual function also improve.

Remember that TRT may cause hair loss in some men, or it may accelerate an existing problem. If you start losing more hair after starting TRT, contact your doctor as soon as possible. It usually happens in teenagers who have DHT sensitivity or a genetic problem.

TRT is often prescribed for hair loss when you experience multiple low T symptoms that impact quality of life. It is also not a suitable treatment for all because of its potential side effects. Discuss it thoroughly with your healthcare provider before considering it.

Forms of TRT

TRT has different forms, such as testosterone gels, creams, patches, pellets, tablets, and injections. All forms produce unique effects and have different success rates.

You should discuss their application methods, side effects and benefits with your doctor before you choose one.

FAQs about hair loss in teenage boys

Can you reverse hair loss?

Some hair loss issues are temporary and can be reversed with a little care. These include hair problems caused by stress, poor diet, scalp infections, and harsh hair treatments.

Can lack of iron cause hair loss?

Yes, iron deficiency can disturb your hair growth phases/hair growth cycle and cause hair thinning leading to hair fall.

Why am I losing hair as a teenager?

Teenagers can lose hair for many reasons such as stress, poor lifestyle and hair care habits, nutrients deficiency and more. Talk to a healthcare problem to identify the cause of the problem and related solution.

Summing it up

Hair loss is not very common in teenage males, but it can still develop in them over the years or abruptly. There are numerous causes, but genetics and hormonal imbalance are the most common causes.

If you are a teenager experiencing hair loss, you should not hesitate to seek help. Contact a trusted and qualified doctor to identify the cause and find a suitable treatment.

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References

Garcia, S. and Kenner-Bell, B., 2025. Hair Loss in Teenagers: A Review for Primary Care Pediatricians. Pediatric Annals, 54(6), pp.e189-e195.

Asfour, L., Cranwell, W. and Sinclair, R., 2023. Male androgenetic alopecia. Endotext [Internet].

AKBAŞ, A. and KILINÇ, F., 2021. The Role of Micronutrients in Young Men Presenting with Hair Loss. Turkiye Klinikleri Journal of Dermatology, 31(1).

Kim, B.J., Kim, J.Y., Eun, H.C., Kwon, O.S., Kim, M.N. and Ro, B.I., 2006. Androgenetic alopecia in adolescents: a report of 43 cases. The Journal of dermatology, 33(10), pp.696-699.

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