Reasons for Thinning Hair in Young Men
Although a thinning of the hair is a natural part of the aging process, many men experience hair loss prematurely. According to Medical News Today, 50 percent of men suffer from a type of hair loss called androgenetic alopecia, or male pattern baldness 12. If you are a young man and suffering from thinning hair, it is very likely that you have inherited this type of permanent hair loss. However, there are other possible causes.
DHT
')2. Men have more DHT present in the body than women, explaining why they suffer more from hair loss. DHT kills the hair follicles by blocking them from receiving the nutrients they need to survive.
Alopecia Areata
Propecia vs. Rogaine
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Alopecia areata is the name given to hair loss when it appears in patches, and it can be another possible cause of hair loss in young, healthy males. An autoimmune disease, alopecia areata is the result of an overactive immune system attacking its own cells. Medical News Today says that it is largely hereditary and can be triggered by stress or viral infections 12. Alopecia areata can go into remission for short or long periods, sometimes never returning.
- Alopecia areata is the name given to hair loss when it appears in patches, and it can be another possible cause of hair loss in young, healthy males.
- An autoimmune disease, alopecia areata is the result of an overactive immune system attacking its own cells.
Other Forms
Hair loss can also be caused by emotional or physical shock; this is known as telogen effluvium hair loss. In most cases these forms are often temporary.
Treatments
What Are the Treatments for Scarring Alopecia?
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According to MayoClinic.com, by massaging Minoxidil, an over-the-counter topical foam or liquid, into your scalp twice a day, you can prevent or slow further hair loss 34.cause:
- According to MayoClinic.com
- by massaging Minoxidil
- an over-the-counter topical foam or liquid
- into your scalp twice a day
- you can prevent or slow further hair loss [3](https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hair-loss/symptoms-causes/syc-20372926 'inline-reference::MayoClinic.com: Hair Loss
- Causes')[4](https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hair-loss/symptoms-causes/syc-20372926 'inline-reference::MayoClinic.com: Hair Loss
- Treatments
- Drugs')
Some people can also see evidence of regrowth. Similarly, the prescription pills Propecia, whose medical name is Finasteride, can produce the same results after daily usage. Propecia works by preventing the conversion of testosterone into DHT.
Considerations
Although rare, side effects of Propecia can include sexual dysfunction such as reduced libido. Medical News Today notes that one in 50 men may be affected by this 12. Minoxidil can cause over-drying of the skin and some irritation. They are suitable treatments only for androgenetic hair loss and areata alopecia 4. For information on how to treat other forms of hair loss, consult your doctor for diagnosis and advice.
Related Articles
References
- Medical News Today: What Is Hair Loss?
- Medical News Today: What Is DHT?
- MayoClinic.com: Hair Loss, Causes
- MayoClinic.com: Hair Loss, Treatments and Drugs
- Phillips TG, Slomiany WP, Allison R. Hair Loss: Common Causes and Treatment. Am Fam Physician. 2017;96(6):371-378.
- Watras MM, Patel JP, Arya R. Traditional anticoagulants and hair loss: a role for direct oral anticoagulants? A review of the literature. Drugs Real World Outcomes. 2016;3(1):1-6. doi:10.1007/s40801-015-0056-z
- Urysiak-czubatka I, Kmieć ML, Broniarczyk-dyła G. Assessment of the usefulness of dihydrotestosterone in the diagnostics of patients with androgenetic alopecia. Postepy Dermatol Alergol. 2014;31(4):207-15. doi:10.5114/pdia.2014.40925
- Vincent M, Yogiraj K. A descriptive study of alopecia patterns and their relation to thyroid dysfunction. Int J Trichology. 2013;5(1):57-60. doi:10.4103/0974-7753.114701
- Peters EMJ, Müller Y, Snaga W, et al. Hair and stress: A pilot study of hair and cytokine balance alteration in healthy young women under major exam stress. PLoS ONE. 2017;12(4):e0175904. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0175904
- Pratt CH, King LE, Messenger AG, Christiano AM, Sundberg JP. Alopecia areata. Nat Rev Dis Primers. 2017;3:17011. doi:10.1038/nrdp.2017.11
- American Academy of Dermatology. Alopecia Areata: Overview.
Writer Bio
Stuart Biggs began writing in 2010 and specializes in health, beauty and lifestyle articles for various websites. Biggs graduated from Bournemouth University in 2003 with a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in scriptwriting for film and TV.