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Hello, Im a 16 year old male and i have been experiencing frightening thoughts of a receeding hair line. My hair is currently around 40cm long from the root. Not so long ago I looked in the mirror to notice that my hair was slightly more blonde amongst the corners from my temples up, and the hair seems thinner and smoother. Im probably guessing it is from wearing my hair tight in a bun. There is no form of genetic balding in my family. Is this a Form of balding that can be overcome?

It sounds like you could have traction alopecia which occurs when one braids his/her hair tightly, causing continuous traction, which over time will cause permanent hair loss. The actual pattern of hair loss will be helpful to view so send me a photo and I can tell you from that (wrassman@newhair.com). Alternatively, receding hairlines in men as they mature is a normal part of the aging process, most notable between the ages of 18-29.

Please note that genetic balding may skip a generation or two, so it is possible that you have a genetic predisposition to lose your hair. I recommend that you see a doctor that specializes in hair, so that he can evaluate you in detail, looking for miniaturization to determine if there is any balding process going on.

Hi Doctor Rassman,
I am 26 yr old guy having hair thinning since past 10 months. I recently started on a regimen of propecia and Minoxidil 5% since past 1 month. I plan to have an elective surgery next month which will involve Anesthesia with IV sedation. I am worried this could accelerate my hairloss/ thinning. From what I have read any surgery can cause Temporary hairloss or telogen effluvium more so due to psychological stress than light anesthesia. How true is this ? Does any surgery always result in hairloss ? Will the fact that I will be 2 months on propecia and Minox help or decrease the hairloss/thinning that might be caused because of the surgery ? Please advise whether its too risky to go for surgery as I do not want to mess up with my hair. I have had a surgery (accident fracture) before under general anes. 4 years back and did not notice any hairloss but that was because I was not having any hair issues back then.

If you have genetic hair loss, then any stress (like anesthesia and surgery) can accelerate the hair loss process in a young person. Men are less likely to have this happen and your approach wtih Minoxidil and Propecia should reasonably protect you, as much as possible. I have rarely seen hair loss in men with anesthesia and surgery outside of the scalp, but in women with genetic hair loss it is not uncommon. Many women who lose hair will regrow it, but for the few men that lose it with ongoing genetic hair loss, the return of hair is rare. Your approach seems aggressive and well-timed and would encourage you to continue on that track.

Hi, I’m 21 years old and I started thinning about a year ago, primarily on the temples and in the front. I started taking 1 mg of finasteride daily about 8 months ago , and I’ve been using 5% minoxidil. My temples grew back 100% and but I’ve noticed the front is still thinning and I’ve been losing alot of hair in the shower. Is it fair to say that the finasteride isn’t working for me? I don’t know whether to let nature take it’s course and just save my money. Is there a chance that finatseride will start to kick in ? Also do you have any news on the new buzz going around about hair cloning? Is there a possibility that it will be available in the near future?

You should give Propecia at least 18-24 months to peak out its benefit. When you say it is not working, I assume that you mean you are still losing some hair. The normal hair loss rate is about 100-150 hairs/day and with that comes another new 100-150 hairs that start growing. Could it be that Propecia reduced the rate of loss and because it is still negative, you are assuming that it is not working? Whatever you do, I strongly feel that you should stay on the drug for the full 2 years. As you have indicated that you are in Los Angeles, you should be under a doctor’s management here. We can be reached at 800-NEW-HAIR if you’d like to set up a free consultation.

Hair cloning is not coming down the short-term highway. Maybe we will see hair cloning in 5-10 years in the research stage, but for someone of your age, you have to surround your problem well before that process is on the short term horizon. For more hair cloning posts, please see the Hair Cloning category.

In a recent news article from Central Florida’s Local 6 News, the relationship between hair loss and dieting was emphasized. Although I have always included weight loss as a contributing factor in hair loss, I was reminded by this article of the obesity problem that is confronting the American population and the degree to which people are willing to go to lose excess pounds. Sometimes, starvation diets are employed and are just not a subject that anyone wants to talk about (short of bulimia in a movie staff), but the problem is real and weight loss can accentuate any hair loss that may be present, if not precipitating its onset if it is not present but within the genetic cards of that person. For more info, see the article link here.

• Doctors Treating Dieters Suffering From Hair Loss

Hi Dr. Rassman,

I have a couple questions to ask you regarding my hairloss situation. First of all, im 21 yr old male. I recently began losing a lot of hair suddenly throughout my whole head at about 8 months ago. I have been on propecia for 7 months now. However, the majority of hairs that fall out(about 75%) has a white hard mucus substance that can be scraped off from the end of the hair. I lose about 150ish hairs and they are basically always all the same size hair. I also seem to have a lot of dandruff (im assuming, white mucus-like flakes) that fall off also with the hair.
I just went to a dermatologist the other day and had him look at everything. He looked and sifted through my temple region hairs with just his eyes but didnt really look closely at anything else (no magnifying or anything). When i asked him about the white mucus stuff, he said it was normal to have that. (For the record, i know that hair has little white bulbs on the end of a hair, but this isnt the case here. it is real scrapable stuff, NOT the bulb)I then asked him about taking a scalp biopsy and he told me that that wouldnt really show anything. I then asked him about measuring my level of DHT in my body to see if its really high and he said that also wouldnt show anything because it doesnt matter how much DHT we have in our system, it only matters how much the hair follicles react to that DHT. He then gave me a form to get my thyroid, iron, and blood glucose? tested, which i will do now.
He then concluded that the acne on my face that is deep down inside my skin (never been able to get rid of it) could have something to do with my scalp and the flakey-ness as well as the mucus on the hair pieces so he prescribed me Nizoral 2% shampoo as well as Nizoral pills to get deep down and clear out my face and anything in my scalp. He also believed that milk could be playing a part in my hair loss because of the hormones milk has and how it bypasses the DHT blockers in propecia. (I do consume a lot of dairy products) He was very adamant about it and said how americans are much more balder than other countries and how the US drinks much more milk than others, etc. and how he is planning on doing a research project on it with candidates, etc. So he told me to stop all intake of milk, cheese, ice cream, etc. and see if it improves in the 2 months when i see him for a followup appointment. I asked about the loss of calcium etc. and he said that i would be fine without it and the loss of dairy products wouldnt have that big of an effect. (i could get it from other food products, etc.)
What im wondering is if what you think of my situation and about the dermatologist. I was just a little taken back about how he didnt give me a scalp biopsy, or look in a magnified glass to see deep down in my scalp. I dont doubt his intelligence because he told me that he was one of the doctors that got the creation of Nizoral, etc. and he is very well known and popular. (takes 3 months to get an appt.) I was just wondering if you agree and what your thoughts are on what he said about the different tests and if the examination of me seemed correct because i really wanted a biopsy and DHT test since i heard it worked well. Also, what are your thoughts of the acne issue and besides the thyroid, iron, and blood glucose tests, are there any other tests or procedures done to see if my hair loss is normal. And lastly, what is your opinion on my hair loss situation and is this normal? If that white mucus stuff isnt normal, does that mean that as each one of those hairs falls out, does that mean that particualr hair will never grow back? (is that the hair follicle or something meaning permanent loss?) I will send you a picture of my hairs and of my scalp.
Thank you so much for your time in reading and replying to this, it means so much to me. Im really having a hard time trying to deal with this.

The tests that your dermatologist told you about are always a good idea, so he can be sure that you do not have other causes of hair loss (other than genetic male patterned balding, which is the most common). We generally lose 100-150 hairs per day, so seeing the hair come out does not bother me. If you are picking because of the scaling, then more hair loss with bulbs may be detectable. What I always do and think is important to do, is a thorough analysis of your scalp by region, looking for miniaturization, which is the hallmark for genetic balding and some other forms of balding as well. Any good long-term plan, which is critical for someone of your age, must have periodic follow-ups of the scalp, quantifying the degree of miniaturization and any changes over time. Without that step, there is no possibility that a diagnosis of genetic male pattern balding can be made. Hair falling out is normal, provided that your body replaces the same amount (usually between 100-150 hairs per day).

With regard to the milk focus that your dermatologist is referring to, I am not familiar with it, nor have I found that others in the hair restoration community have developed such focus. I was a dairy farmer many years ago, and I do not believe that we are allowed to use the type of hormones in these cows that would produce more hair loss, but it’s been many years since I’ve last milked cows. As for Nizoral, I’ve discussed this previously here: Nizoral Shampoo.

It sounds to me like you need some real assessment of the balding process by a hair specialist, like me. On the east coast, Dr. Robert Bernstein in New York (phone - 201-585-1115) would also be able to do such an examination for you as well.

Hi,

I have male pattern baldness. it started at age 18 from my temples and has been receding terribly over the years, and more esp over the last 5 years. I am now 43. I used to have severe psoraisis on the face and scalp and was told the hair loss was because of that. Now the psoraisis has gone down considerably, alomost completely but the receding continues. i also have thick scabs on my scalp on and off that do not look like psoraisis scabs, i think it could be symptomatic of systemic yeast/eczema?

I used to have a very thick full head of hair, more than the average person so the hair loss over the years was more apparent to me than to others. Now, it is apparent to everyone. i just have a strand or two to cover my unnaturally high forehead, the hair on top is very thin, weak and sparse, there is more at the back but that too has recently thinned a lot.

In the last 3-4 months, my hair has been falling out in clumps, and is extremely coarse, dry and brittle. Please dont tell me it is age because this has been happening throughtout my adult life , but has has gotten much worse recently and esp since my first ever perm a year ago. But the frontal hair has been receding steadily since age 18. It has been very distressing and depressing for me, and nowadays, i dont even like to look in the mirror and see my unkempt hair. No matter what i do - hair oils, etc, it is as dry n weak as ever and receding all the time. help would be very welcome and appreciated.

This is an area where I have first hand knowledge, with the worst form of scalp psoriasis one can have. Mine, like yours, burned out in the scalp and I have almost none of if at this time. But I never lost hair because I was careful about not pulling off the plaques which would have almost certainly produced traction alopecia. Psoriasis does not cause hair loss unless the plaques are pulled off and the hair comes out with the plaques regularly.

With regard to hair transplants, I am frequently asked by people with psoriasis, if the psoriasis can be moved from one part of the scalp to another. In my experience, psoriasis can not be transplanted from the affected area to an unaffeced area, but any surgery done on active psoriasis, can make it worse, unless it is treated topically prior to the surgery.

You may have a skin condition and this must be defined by a good dermatologist. The rest of your needs are easily dealt with through traditional hair transplantation, which is extensively discussed in my book, The Patient’s Guide to Hair Restoration.

Hi, i am 15 years old and im losing my hair rapidly. The only part of my hair im losing are the temple areas so my hairline looks like a big “M” also im noticing that the sides of my hair are thinning and receding also. Im not sure what to do i dont think its hereditary because my dad started losing his hair at 35 and all his younger brothers still have there hair and his one older brother started losing his hair at 40 so i dont think thats the cause of my hairloss. Im not sure what to do its getting really bad. It’s already receded about an inch and 1/4 on both sides. I do my best to cover it as much as i can but it still hurts my self esteem alot and i need a solution so can you please give me your opinion thanks

I am not sure we are talking about the same part of anatomy (temples or corners). Triangular Alopecia is a genetic condition that causes people to lose hair in the temples, while corner balding and recession reflects more of the typical male patterned genetic balding. You need to see a good doctor and have a proper diagnosis made. The doctor should make a good microscopic analysis of your entire scalp. Most doctors can project this evaluation on a TV monitor and show you how far the miniaturization extends. The amount and scope of the miniaturization will demonstrate the balding pattern as it may unfold. You are far too young for transplantation, but as you’ve noted that you are based in the Los Angeles area, if you’re interested you can have a parent/guardian call 800-NEW-HAIR to set up a free consultation in my Los Angeles office, so that I may properly evaluate you.

I have had Lyme disease and taken massive quantities of antibiotics. I am also 57 and taking a small amount of estradiol. I also recently (over a six month period) lost 12 pounds on a diet prescribed by my endocrinologist which eliminated foods I was allergic to (wheat and dairy). my hair has been falling out for about four months now. I thought it was due to the antibiotics, but I quit them three weeks ago and the hair loss is as bad as ever, particularly when I wash my hair–a handful! I am down to half my normal head of hair (and have also lost it on other parts of my body). Do you know of a good Alopecia doctor in Los Angeles who could help me. And, of course, what are your thoughts?

I am in Los Angeles, so I’d like you to please pay me a visit. I can add other doctors to the mix that have the specialties to deal with some of the problems we identify. It sounds like many of the elements you discussed can contribute to your hair loss. Medications, hormones, weight loss, and some types of allergies all are known factors that by themselves can produce hair loss, but first, you need to have a good, caring doctor who will look at you as a person first, and with a desired head of hair second. I might not be the right one for the entire management, but certainly I am good to have on the team.

Call my office at 800-NEW-HAIR to set up an appointment with me. The consultation is free.

ok, so far very few people have been able to answer my question. i have been living in dubai for 3 years and after a summer in london i’ve been experiencing hair loss every year. i am using bottled water as there is chlorine in tap water here. have been told that the hair loss is possibly due to the climate and air conditioning in the buildings. if so, then what can i do to stop this hair loss? my diet is the same and i use only good shampoos, etc and plus i take vitamins. in fact i do mostly everything i know to keep my hair in good condition. it is naturally dry. please help!!!!! many thanks

Hair loss is not caused by climate. If you use a head dress, then you could be producing traction from it and this would/could cause traction alopecia. Chlorine without toxicity, will not produce hair loss nor will any reasonable shampoo that is commercial. You need to be evaluated for male patterned hair loss (assuming you are a man and not a woman — sorry, you didn’t specify) and this would take a good microscopic assessment from various areas of your scalp to determine the degree of miniaturization of the hairs in those areas. If you have genetic balding there will be patterned hair loss (in men) and Propecia and much of the material on that drug reflected in this blog and on our website is appropriate for you to review.

I have patches of hair coming out on my head. It looks like someone hit me with a shot gun and every place the buckshot went, I lost a patch of hair around it. It started a couple of years ago and then stopped, but did not get better. What should I do? Will a hair transplant fix this?

It sounds like you have Alopecia Areata. This is an autoimmune disease that has genetic origins. You need to see a dermatologist. Hair transplants usually fail to grow in the patches of hair loss if the disease is active. Visit the National Alopecia Areata Foundation website for more information.