Common Causes Of Hair Loss In Teenage Girls
Hair loss among teenage girls is becoming more prevalent, and it is happening at an alarming rate. Girls as young as thirteen are complaining of excessive hair loss as they find multiple strands or clumps of hair on their pillow, in the shower, in their brush and lying all over the floor.
Looking good and fitting in is especially important for teenage girls. Facing hair loss at this time can be a devastating and scary experience, especially since it isn’t something they ever expected. After all, who ever heard of teenage girls losing their hair for no apparent reason? Until recently it was almost unheard of.
Contact Doctor During Office Hours
- Scabs or crusts are present in the hair
- Ringworm of the scalp suspected.
- Broken hairs from tight hair style and pimples are present in scalp
- Patch of hair loss and cause not known
- Widespread hair thinning and cause not known
- Hair loss from nervous habit of twisting the hair
- Hair loss is a chronic problem
- Normal hair loss suspected, but doesn’t grow back within 6 months
- You have other questions or concerns
Hair Pulling Or Twirling
Children who twirl their hair may damage the hair follicles, causing the hair to fall out. Some children pull their hair because of anxiety. Doctors call this trichotillomania.
When the person stops pulling or twirling their hair, it should regrow. Hair pulling is a type of anxiety or obsessive-compulsive disorder, so it is essential to treat the underlying cause. A child may benefit from therapy, emotional and social support, or medication.
Recommended Reading: How To Treat Pcos Hair Loss Naturally
Symptoms Of Alopecia Areata
If you suspect your toddler has AA, then contact a doctor. The following are the commonly observed symptoms of alopecia areata in toddlers .
- Patches of hair loss on the scalp or any other part of the body, such as eyebrows. Hair loss in AA is substantially higher than in normal hair loss.
- The hairless patch reveals a normal, clear skin. The skin gradually smoothens as more hair follicles are lost .
- Very rarely, toddlers might complain about burning or itching sensation before the hair loss .
- At times, hair loss is also accompanied by nail changes. Nails might develop pits or ridges on them.
- Those with AA might also exhibit other disorders such as atopic dermatitis, hypothyroidism, and vitiligo.
Alopecia areata is a non-contagious disease, which means the toddler will not get it from someone and cannot spread it to others . Also, hair loss does not leave any scars on the skin. If you notice inflammation, scarring, redness, and pus formation on the bald spots, then it might be some other skin condition. Consult a doctor for an accurate diagnosis.
What Are The Myths About Hair Loss
Myths about hair loss are widespread. Nothing in the following list is true:
- Youre losing hair because you shampoo it too much, or because youve colored it or gotten a perm.
- Dandruff causes permanent hair loss in women.
- Stress causes permanent hair loss in women.
- If you shave your head, your hair will grow back twice as thick.
- If you stand on your head youll increase circulation, stimulating hair growth.
- If you brush your hair 100 strokes a day that will make your hair healthier.
- Hats and wigs cause hair loss in women.
- Hair loss only affects intellectual women.
You May Like: Does Caffeine Affect Hair Loss
Female Pattern Baldness And The Genetic Link
Genetics appears to be a significant factor in developing female pattern baldness, which means it runs in families. Women can inherit the gene for pattern baldness from either parent.
Female pattern baldness tends to be more common as a woman ages and reaches midlife, although it can begin earlier.
It often develops after menopause, so hormonal changes may also be a contributing factor.
Female pattern baldness is largely thought to occur due to genetics. However, it may also develop due to an underlying condition that affects the production of the hormone androgen.
Androgen is a hormone that plays a role in pattern baldness. Tumors of the pituitary gland or ovary, which secrete androgen, may also lead to hair loss.
Other causes of hair loss in women include:
- Autoimmune disease: Alopecia areata is a rare autoimmune disorder that causes the immune system to attack the hair follicles leading to hair loss.
- Medication: Certain medications, such as those that are used to treat cancer, can cause hair loss as a side effect. However, hair usually regrows once a person has stopped taking the medication.
- Illness: Hair loss can develop after a significant illness, such as a severe infection, high fever, or surgery.
- Traction alopecia: This is hair loss that occurs when a person frequently wears hairstyles that pull the hair too tightly.
What Are Some Tips For Dealing With Hair Loss In Women
There are some things you can do on your own. You might check with your stylist or try some of these:
- Coloring your hair adds volume to the strands, making your hair seem fuller.
- Massaging your head, like when you are washing your hair, can stimulate blood flow to the scalp and hair follicles.
- Getting your hair cut shorter, and having layers added, can make your hair seem fuller.
- Using the right kind of shampoo can also help. Look for a shampoo that adds volume without using sulfate detergents.
- Using the right kind of product at the right time can also help. There are products that add volume that you add while your hair is still wet. However, using too much product can add weight.
You May Like: What Is The Best Product To Use For Thinning Hair
What Are The Common Causes Of Hair Loss In Women
What causes hair loss?
- Hair style: Your style of hair can cause hair loss when your hair is arranged in ways that pull on your roots, like tight ponytails, braids, or corn rows. This type of hair loss is called traction alopecia. If hair follicles are damaged, the loss can be permanent.
- Vitamin deficiency.
- Over processed scalp hair .
What causes anagen effluvium hair loss?
- Toxic substances, including chemotherapy, radiation therapy and some medications. These cause sudden hair loss that can occur anywhere on your body. It happens to hair in the growth stage. Sometimes, this type of hair loss can be permanent if your hair follicles are damaged.
What causes telogen effluvium hair loss?
- Extreme physical stress or shock to your body: This causes temporary hair loss. This category includes events like losing a lot of weight, surgery, anemia, illness and having a baby.
- Extreme emotional stress: mental illness, the death of a loved one, etc.
- An abnormal thyroid.
- Medications and supplements: blood pressure medicines, gout medicines and high doses of Vitamin A.
- Hormone changes caused by pregnancy, menopause or birth control pills.
What causes FPHL ?
- Genes: Your familys genes can cause thinning of hair along the top of your head.
- Aging: Hormone changes as you age can cause balding.
- Menopause: This type of hair loss often gets worse when estrogen is lost during menopause.
There are also some conditions that affect hair loss:
How To Treat And Prevent Hair Loss In Teenagers
Addressing the root of the problem and consulting with a doctor are the best ways to treat hair loss in teenagers. In addition to that, here are some of the steps that you can follow to promote healthy hair and prevent hair loss.
- Eat a well-balanced diet and avoid unhealthy foods.
- Always wash and brush your hair gently. Try to use nourishing oils for the hair, like coconut oil or argan oil.
- Avoid too much heat styling and tight up-styles to prevent damaging the hair.
- Get tested for vitamin deficiencies.
- Test for hormonal imbalances and consult with a doctor to correct them.
- Reduce stress.
- Stimulate the scalp by massaging it.
Read Also: What Shampoo To Use For Hair Loss
Key Points About Normal Hair Loss
Teenage Hair Loss Treatments
When it comes to teenage hair fall solutions and treatments, the age factor plays a major role as not every treatment is suitable for teenagers. Teenagers suffering from hair loss can be prescribed medication, procedural treatments, or a combination of both.
Listed below are some effective treatments which can help resolve the problem of teenage hair loss.
Don’t Miss: What Doctor Treats Hair Loss
Medical Causes Of Hair Loss In Children
For the majority of children 26 months or older suffering hair loss, one of the following conditions is the cause. Your child’s pediatrician or a pediatric dermatologist should be able to diagnose these conditions and prescribe the appropriate treatment.
Tinea capitis. Tinea capitis, commonly known as ringworm of the scalp, is a fungal infection often seen in children. It can show up in a number of ways, but often as scaly patches of hair loss on the head. The patches are usually round or oval. The hairs may be broken off at the surface of the skin and look like black dots on the scalp.
If your child’s doctor suspects tinea capitis, a microscopic examination can confirm the diagnosis. Treatment usually involves an oral antifungal, such as griseofulvin taken by mouth for eight weeks. Your child should also use an antifungal shampoo such as selenium sulfide or ketoconazole to decrease shedding of the fungus.
Because ringworm is contagious, your child should be careful not to share any objects that touch the head such as hats, pillow cases, hair clippers, or brushes.
Alopecia areata. Alopecia areata is a non-contagious condition of hair loss thought to be caused by the body’s immune system attacking the hair follicles. It is characterized by the sudden appearance of round or oval patches of hair loss. The patches are slick or smooth, without scaling or broken hairs. About 25% of children also have pitting and ridging of the nails.
Best Foods For Hair Growth
Lets check the list of foods which can help us in hair growth and can control hair loss.
Watch this video to know more information and tips on how to control hair loss.
Thank you for reading!
Recommended Reading: Can Melanoma Cause Hair Loss
How To Treat & Prevent Hair Loss As A Tee
Hair loss can be a stressful event, especially when it occurs relatively early in your life. Its quite common and normal to feel stressed and alarmed when you first notice that your hair is thinning or that your hairline is receding.
Luckily, male pattern baldness is treatable. Although dealing with hair loss early might feel like a curse, the reality is that by acting quickly you can protect your hairline and maintain your hair as you get older.
Remember, the earlier you start treating hair loss, the more of your hair youll generally be able to protect and maintain.
Is Alopecia Areata Common In Toddlers
Pediatric alopecia areata is not uncommon . It means that AA can affect a person of any age group, including toddlers. The prevalence rate of alopecia areata is one in 1,000 people worldwide . Pediatric cases constitute approximately 20% of all the affected cases, but they need not necessarily happen in toddlerhood.
You May Like: How To Tell If Your Hair Is Thinning Male
The Top Four Hair Loss Treatments For Teens
Check with your doctor of course, especially if youre under 18. Based on my extensive research, these are your best four best treatment options for teenage hair loss.
1. Finasteride
Finasteride or Propecia is only approved for men 18 years and older. It can stop hair loss in its tracks and promote regrowth, sometimes for a decade or more.
It comes with some risks, though, theres no doubt about it, namely the possibility of sexual side effects. This is the only treatment that will effectively address the cause of your hair loss, DHT. Theres a decent chance your doctor will recommend Propeccia to you, although many doctors are hesitant to prescribe the drug to teenagers. Before your appointment, Id suggest doing some research on Propecia, its side effects, benefits, etc.
2. Minoxdil
Minoxidil gets a bad wrap sometimes, but it often does a great job helping men maintain the hair they have. Regrowth is more appealing, I realize, and thats possible with minoxidil too. But maintenance is absolutely critical if you want to win the war against early-onset hair loss, so if I were you, Id probably take a serious look at minoxidil. Its only FDA approved for men over 18, but many doctors recommend minoxidil off-label to their younger patients. Talk to your doctor first.
3. PRP
PRP is a new and exciting treatment option in the hair loss field. Not sure if this is available for minors or not. Some say its the best-kept secret in dermatology.
4. Laser Therapy
More Good News
Should I Change My Hair Care Regimen
No. Since there is no structural problem with the hair with female-pattern hair loss, women should continue their regular hair styling regimen. Sometimes women think they should stop washing, coloring, or perming their hair, but these things wonât impact the course of hair loss or speed up the process.
Wash with an anti-dandruff shampoo that contains ketoconazole or zinc pyrthione .
Don’t Miss: What Really Works For Women’s Thinning Hair