Hair loss normally occurs gradually with age, but sometimes teenagers lose their hair, too. Discovery of teenage hair loss can be a discomforting experience for anyone, but it’s often substantially more distressing for teenage girls. There is no doubt that hair loss affects self-esteem in teenagers. A fair amount of this unhappiness results from social media, which presents images that tend to portray an ideal body that’s unattainable to most. Viewing these images can cause teenagers to question their appearance and lose self-esteem.
Fortunately, it’s possible to prevent or reverse hair loss and avoid the damage it can cause to self-esteem. By working with a professional, teenagers can identify the cause of their hair loss and receive the treatment they need to raise their self-esteem.
Causes of Teenage Hair Loss
Here are some common causes of hair loss in teenagers:
Alopecia areata:: This skin disease is thought to develop when the immune system damages the hair follicles, causing hair strands to weaken and eventually fall out. It therefore causes bald patches that may appear and disappear.
Medical conditions: Certain medical conditions can interfere with normal hair production and cause hair loss. These include polycystic ovary syndrome, thyroid disease and uncontrolled diabetes.
Medicines: Hair loss can be a side effect of medicines used to treat ADHD, acne, bipolar disorder and cancer. Diet pills containing amphetamines can also cause hair loss.
Traction alopecia: This condition develops due to hair follicle damage from hairstyles that pull on the hair. Teenagers who vigorously or excessively backcomb or brush their hair and those who wear braids, cornrows and extensions in their hair are at high risk for this type of hair loss.
Chemical hair treatments: Treatments such as dyes, bleaches and perms can damage the hair follicles, causing hair strands to break off or fall out.
Trichotillomania: This psychological disorder causes people to repeatedly pull their hair out. It’s often triggered by stress and anxiety, and leaves areas of baldness and damaged hair strands of different lengths.
Poor nutrition: Hair loss can be a symptom of nutritional deficiencies, such as zinc or vitamin H deficiency. Vegetarian and vegan teenagers are at high risk for hair loss due to poor nutrition.
Androgenetic alopecia: This condition is caused by several factors, including genetic makeup and hormones called androgens. Teenagers who take steroids to build their bodies are at high risk for this type of hair loss.
The causes of teenage hair loss are many and varied, and teenagers should work with a hair restoration specialist to develop a treatment plan. Early treatment can help teenagers with hair loss to improve their self-image and self-esteem.
At New Look Institute we offer the best non-surgical hair restoration treatments available to teenagers today. To schedule a free consultation contact us today!
Photo Credit: Maria Morri Via Flickr Creative Commons
Sources:
http://www.webmd.com/children/guide/hair-loss-in-children?page=1
http://www.nyc.gov/html/girls/html/issues/issues.shtml
http://selfesteem.dove.us/Articles/Written/social-media-and-body-image.aspx
http://kidshealth.org/en/teens/hair-loss.html
