Teen Hair Loss - Mom, I’m Losing My Hair!

Hair loss is usually the last conce
of any female teen. Although sometimes teenagers experience losing their hair too. In this case, it may be a sign that something may be wrong. You have to calm yourself though since, this is not much of a life and death situation.

So let us talk about our crowning glory: the hair. It is composed of keratin which is a type of protein in our body. The hair is made up of a hair shaft, the root and the follicle. At the deeper end is the hair bulb, where the hair’s color pigment- melanin is produced.

Statistics tell us that baldness strikes 40% of men by their thirties. And more than 65% of them will have the “monk” type of haircut or the typical set where the hair is only at the back of the head and around the temples and bald on top – by age 75. It is a known fact that baldness strikes so much fear in men because this is a sign that the aging process is already starting. Age, as we know is something we hate but yet can not do something about its coming.

However when you are losing your hair during your adolescence phase, it can be more stressful. Why does it have to happen during a time when appearance is all that matters? It can be devastating to self-esteem and confidence too.

In our head, it is normal to lose about 50 to 100 hairs a day. No need to worry because these hairs are replaced in the same spot. If your teenager is losing more than that, it is indeed time to be alarmed. It is a good idea to go to a doctor to determine the cause of the problem. Your doctor can suggest some treatment to correct these using modern methods.

Teen hair loss may be due to sickness or poor nutrition. Strong medications or medical treatment can also cause teens to lose their hair. Some improper hair care should be avoided. Lathering on too much hair gels and creams can cause the hair roots to weaken and break easily.

Listen up guys! Making your hair stand up like a cathedral and being “hip and cool” do have its own disadvantage. And hear me out girls! If you wear a hairstyle that pulls on the hair so tightly like braids or ponytails, you can damage the hair follicles and will prevent or slow down the growth of healthy hair. So I suggest you let your hair breathe once in a while. Do not tie it up and punish it everyday.

At times, stress can cause hair loss in teenagers. They might be going through a difficult time at school, probably thinking about problems in their class subjects or handling peer pressure. It is best to talk to your parents or teachers to find out how you can relieve your negative stress.

Although there are studies that say balding is usually extensive if it starts in the teen years, the good news is that some research claims that it is often temporary. Once the cause of the problem is corrected, hair will usually grow back.