When Male Hair Loss Typically Begins
The Roots of Men’s Hair Loss
Male pattern baldness has several causes, including:
- Hereditary factors or testosterone imbalance
- Medication-induced baldness
- Stress
- Scalp diseases
How Long Do Male Hair Follicles Last?
Hair follicles operate in natural cycles of growth and rest: anagen, catagen, telogen, and exogen.
- Anagen: The growth phase, lasting up to five years for scalp hair, though some hairs can grow for seven years or more.
- Catagen: The transitional phase where hair growth slows and the follicle shrinks.
- Telogen: The resting phase, lasting a few months, with about 10% of scalp hairs in this stage. No growth or shedding occurs.
- Exogen: A continuation of telogen, where hair sheds from the scalp. Daily hair loss ranges from 50 to 100 hairs.
Hair Loss in Young Adulthood
Hair loss in adolescence can be due to stress, lack of sleep, vitamin deficiencies, poor scalp health, or male pattern baldness. Consulting a local hair loss specialist is crucial for an accurate diagnosis.
How to Stop and Treat Hair Loss
Here are some treatments and preventative measures for thinning hair:
- Minoxidil: Consult your doctor about using this to slow hair loss.
- Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP): Stimulates hair regrowth in men.
- Hair Restoration Surgery: Techniques like Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT) and Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) have proven successful.
