How to Prevent Hair Loss for Teenage Guys
Nobody expects to start balding before they get their drivers’ license. Unfortunately, hair loss can sometimes start in your teens.
Although hair loss in men is more likely to happen in your 30s, 40s, and 50s, some guys notice the early signs of balding in their teen years.
If you’re asking, “Why am I balding at 16?” you’ve come to the right place. Below, we outline the causes of teen hair loss. Plus, we cover helpful, expert-sourced tips on how to stop hair loss in teenage guys.
How Common Is Teenage Hair Loss?
An estimated 15.5 percent and 38.5 percent of teenagers worldwide have some form of hair loss. This number varies from one country and ethnic group to the next, partly because many cases of hair loss are genetic.
You may feel like you’re the only one noticing hair loss in your teens or seeing a receding hairline at 18, but teenage hair loss isn’t all that uncommon.
Symptoms of Teenage Hair Loss
Here are some telltale signs you might have hair loss in your teens:
A change in hairline
Noticeable thinning
Excessive hair loss after showering or brushing/combing your hair
Hair takes longer than usual to grow
It might be a good idea to look at older pictures of yourself — thank you, eternal internet! — to see whether your hairline has changed over time. It also might be worth asking your family, friends, or barber whether they’ve noticed any hair thinning.
For a deeper dive, read more about the first signs of balding, which apply to men of all ages.
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Potential Causes of Hair Loss In Teens
Androgenic alopecia (male pattern hair loss) is the most common form of hair loss in men. But it’s not always the cause of teenage hair loss, says dermatologist Dr. Knox Beasley.
”While male pattern hair loss can potentially start at 16, that is much younger than normal,” Beasley says. “I would see an in-person dermatologist for a workup to rule out other causes of hair loss first.”
Other potential causes of hair loss in teens include:
Alopecia areata
Telogen effluvium
Nutritional deficiencies
Medical conditions
Certain medications
Lifestyle and environmental factors
Traction alopecia
Keep scrolling for details about each of these potential causes of teen hair loss.
Adolescent Androgenetic Alopecia
Pediatric or adolescent androgenetic alopecia could cause balding in your teens. This is an underrecognized medical disorder, meaning there isn’t much research.
As noted, androgenetic alopecia is male pattern hair loss. No matter what age it develops, androgenetic alopecia is caused by a hormone known as dihydrotestosterone (DHT) that alters the hair growth cycle.
DHT is important during puberty — it’s responsible for deepening your voice and growing facial and body hair. But after puberty, the hormone may mess with your hair follicles, causing them to shrink (a process known as miniaturisation).
When the follicle diameters are smaller, individual hair strands are smaller, too, so hair looks thinner and patchy and may even fall out.
So, if every man has DHT, why doesn’t every man go bald? Great question. Your genetics determine how your hair follicles respond to DHT. If you have a family history of male pattern hair loss (thanks, Mom and Dad), you’re more likely to experience it.
Dr Beasley says that you’re more likely to experience early onset male pattern hair loss though if you have a strong family history of it. So, if you suspect you’re losing hair, ask your family members when they started losing hair.
Some (lucky) men aren’t as sensitive to the effects of DHT and will probably not lose their hair — at least not from androgenetic alopecia.
Alopecia Areata
Another possible reason for hair loss in a teenage male is alopecia areata, an autoimmune disease that can cause hair loss.
This condition causes bald patches or diffuse thinning all over the head.
Alopecia areata is the most common cause of hair loss in children, and most people who get it start to experience it in their teens, 20s or 30s. The condition is thought to be a result from a misdirected immune system response to one’s hair.
Telogen Effluvium
Some hair fall is normal. On average, you shed about 50 to 100 hairs daily — not that you need to start counting.
When the body sheds significantly more hair every day, it’s considered excessive hair shedding. If you’re noticing excessive hair shedding and have recently had some stress in your life, it could be a type of hair loss called telogen effluvium.
“Telogen” refers to the resting phase of the hair growth cycle, and “effluvium” translates to “flowing out.” So hair that’s at rest begins to “flow out” — which is to say, it sheds everywhere, clings to your shirt, and clogs your drain.
Normal, fleeting stressors — like getting a bad grade on a test or a weird DM — aren’t going to cause your hair to fall out. But stress-induced hair loss is a thing. Excessive hair shedding is common among people who’ve recently experienced:
Weight loss of 20 pounds or more
Childbirth
Illness with a high fever
Surgery
Chronic stress from life circumstances
One of the main differences between telogen effluvium and androgenetic alopecia is that the former is usually reversible with time and stress management.
Nutritional Deficiencies
“You are what you eat” is a bit of a stretch. But what you eat can affect your hair. Specifically, the nutritional quality of your diet can determine the strength of your strands and how much you keep — or lose — each day.
Growing hair is like a workout for your scalp — hair follicle cells are the some of the most rapidly dividing cells in the body, so it takes lots of energy to produce new hair. Your hair mainly consists of a protein known as keratin, so getting enough protein (containing the amino acids needed to synthesise keratin) is vital for hair growth.
There are also vitamin deficiencies that cause hair loss. Though most people get enough of these nutrients through a balanced diet, you could see hair loss if you’re severely lacking in:
Iron
Ferritin
Niacin
Zinc
Fatty acids
Selenium
Vitamin C
Vitamin B
Vitamin D
Vitamin A
Vitamin E
Folic acid
Amino acids
Eating a healthy diet is always a good idea. But before you start chugging milk and eating spinach by the fistful, it’s best to see a healthcare provider. They can do a blood test to help figure out if you have any nutritional deficiencies and make a plan to improve them — you don’t want to swing too far in the other direction and consume too much of a particular vitamin or mineral.
Health Conditions
Some medical conditions may cause hair loss. However, in most cases, hair loss can be reversed once the underlying cause is addressed.
Illnesses that cause hair loss include:
Autoimmune disorders like alopecia areata
Thyroid disease (both hypo and hyperthyroidism)
Fungal infections on the scalp
Skin disorders that cause excessive scratching, like psoriasis of the scalp
Cancer
Diabetes
Hormonal issues can also play a role in hair loss. Then there’s trichotillomania, a mental health disorder characterised by the frequent urge to pull hair from the scalp.
Medications
Certain medications can cause hair loss, including:
Antidepressants, like Prozac® or Zoloft®
Anticoagulants to prevent blood clots, like heparin and warfarin
Beta-blockers to lower blood pressure, like propranolol and Tenormin®
Anti-inflammatory drugs, like Anaprox® and Clinoril®
Certain thyroid drugs
Some ulcer drugs, like Pepcid®
If you’re seeing signs of balding at 16 or 17 and recently started a new medication, speak to your healthcare provider about whether increased hair loss is a potential side effect of the drug.
Don’t suddenly stop taking a prescribed medication, though — wait for an expert to give you the go-ahead.
Lifestyle and Environmental Factors
Lifestyle and environmental factors can also contribute to damaged hair and breakage, which can make your hair look thinner.
These include:
Drying hair care products (like those containing alcohol or sulfates)
Excessive heat styling
Frequent swimming in chlorinated pools
Harsh chemical treatments, like hair dyes and perms
Skipping conditioner
Practising good hair care habits can help you maintain strong, healthy hair in your teens — and beyond.
Traction Alopecia
Tight hairstyles can cause traction alopecia, a type of hair loss. Basically, anything that pulls your hair into a tight wad and tugs on the strands puts stress on your follicles, which can eventually damage your follicles.
Try to avoid extra-tight hairstyles — think tight ponytails, braids, locs, or man-buns. Your hair will thank you!
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Best Hairstyles for Boys with Thinning Hair
If your current haircut isn’t working with your thinning hair, switch it up.
Some options include:
Side swept. This style evenly distributes hair across the scalp, reducing stress on the hair follicles and helping to prevent thinning.
Spiky. This style creates the illusion of fuller hair by adding volume and texture, which can help mask early signs of hair loss.
Pompadour with a deep fade. The deep fade minimises the appearance of thinning at the sides, while the pompadour adds volume on top, helping to maintain a fuller look.
Want more ideas? Read our guide to the best haircuts for thinning hair and the best styles for a receding hairline.
How to Stop Hair Loss In Teenage Guys
The good news is if you’re noticing hair loss in your teens, you’ve caught it early. That means you can take action to hold onto the hair you have, which is much easier than growing back hair you’ve lost.
“As with every case of male pattern hair loss, the earlier you start treatment the better the results,” Dr. Beasley says. So, if you notice the signs of hair loss — even if you’re not yet sure of the cause — you’ll want to seek medical advice ASAP.
Here’s how to stop hair loss in teenage guys, or at least slow it down.
Talk to a Healthcare Professional
When you’re experiencing hair loss in your teens, you may be tempted to ask your friends for advice. However, we encourage you to get an expert opinion from a healthcare provider.
It’s tough to treat hair loss without understanding what’s causing it, and a hair loss doctor or a dermatologist will help you identify the specific cause.
Consider Hair Loss Treatments
A few research-backed hair loss treatments are available to help with hair regrowth.
The problem? They’re only approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat hair loss in people over 18. Still, a healthcare practitioner may prescribe it if you’re younger than 18.
“These medications can potentially be used off-label to treat male pattern hair loss in someone under 18,” Dr. Beasley says. “However, I recommend having a discussion with a dermatologist first about the risks, benefits, and potential side effects to see what would be the best option.”
Finasteride
Finasteride (the generic of Propecia®) is a prescription medication for treating male pattern baldness.
It works by inhibiting the 5-alpha-reductase enzyme that converts testosterone into DHT, which prevents the body from making too much DHT. This stops much of the DHT-related hair follicle damage that causes male pattern hair loss.
We offer finasteride online for men aged 18 and older, as the FDA has only approved it for this age group. You can get a prescription following a virtual consultation with a healthcare provider.
Minoxidil
Minoxidil (the generic of Rogaine®) is a topical medication for treating hair loss. You apply it directly to areas of your scalp affected by male pattern baldness.
Unlike finasteride, minoxidil doesn’t reduce DHT levels. It increases blood flow to the scalp and stimulates hair follicles to transition to and stay in the anagen (growth) phase of the hair growth cycle. Many studies have shown that minoxidil helps improve hair growth.
Minoxidil is available without a prescription (AKA over-the-counter). We offer minoxidil liquid solution online.
However, note that the medication is only FDA-approved for those 18 and older, mostly because there hasn’t been research on younger folks.
Finasteride and Minoxidil Together
Indecisive? You don’t have to choose between finasteride and minoxidil. We sell a topical finasteride & minoxidil spray that combines the two ingredients — and it seems to be more effective than using either solo.
A 2019 meta-analysis found that using oral finasteride and topical minoxidil together worked better and was just as safe as using one or the other alone. Plus, it’s a fine mist that dries quickly, so it won’t get in the way of styling your hair.
Treat Underlying Health Conditions
Hair loss is often a symptom of a health condition rather than a condition itself. Working with a healthcare provider to treat any health conditions that cause hair loss — like the ones mentioned earlier — will generally resolve the problem. In most cases, regrowth is possible, though it may take time.
Take Care of Your Mental Health
Feeling down or dealing with chronic stressors can take a toll on your hair health — but losing hair at a young age can also make you feel down and stressed. Not exactly a self-esteem booster.
There are some simple ways to help manage anxiety and depression that don’t involve spending a bunch of money on a meditation retreat or a 20-pack of yoga classes.
Online therapy is a great place to start if you don’t have a ton of time (or reliable transport) and you’re looking for help managing chronic stress. You could also try calming breath techniques, art journaling, or a free yoga or meditation class online.
Improve Your Hair Care Routine
Getting thicker hair can be as simple as switching up your shower products or popping a gummy (not that kind). Here are a few things you can do to improve your hair care routine.
Take biotin. If you have a biotin deficiency, a supplement could be a good idea. Generally, though, biotin only helps with hair loss if you have a true deficiency (which is rare). Our biotin gummies contain various nutrients and vitamins to support hair health.
Consider saw palmetto products. A thickening shampoo with saw palmetto could help with androgenetic alopecia. Saw palmetto is a plant extract that works like finasteride, so it can block DHT to some degree. But unlike finasteride, you don’t have to be 18 to use it.
Use volumising shampoo. Whether you take hair loss medication or not, volumising shampoo and volumising conditioner will make your hair look fuller at the roots. It’s the ultimate fake-it-til-you-make-it solution.
Try dandruff shampoo. Be sure to treat any scalp condition that comes up. Our dandruff detox shampoo contains a blend of pyrithione zinc 1% and salicylic acid. It can help keep your scalp healthy.
Quality hair care habits can make a huge difference to how your hair looks and feels.
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Coping With Hair Loss in Your Teens
It’s never a good time to experience hair loss, but a receding hairline as a teenager can be especially disorienting.
If you’ve found yourself asking, “Why am I losing so much hair at 16?” know that you’re not alone. The good news — plenty of hair products and treatment options can slow hair loss and help you hold on to your hair.
Here’s what to remember:
The earlier you notice you’re losing hair, the sooner you can take action. Early treatment can prevent further hair loss. So while hair loss in your teens definitely isn’t fun, it also gives you more time to keep the hair you still have.
There are many hair loss treatments out there. If you’re over 18, consider medications like finasteride and minoxidil. Otherwise, easy lifestyle tweaks can help keep your hair healthy and strong.
Speak with a healthcare expert. A healthcare professional, like a dermatologist, can help you explore your treatment options.
Not ready (or not old enough) for prescription hair loss treatments? NBD. Learn more about the best haircuts for thinning hair, and check out these tips for covering a bald spot — no comb-overs in sight.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. The information contained herein is not a substitute for and should never be relied upon for professional medical advice. Always talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of any treatment or medication.