Hair Loss in Men in Their Teens and Early Twenties

Although hair loss is typically considered to be an affliction associated with old age, it occurs in younger men as well.  Hair loss is generally unexpected in young men and, therefore, the realization that they are losing their hair, can be a devastating shock to younger individuals.  Hair loss typically presents itself as thinning in the temporal area of the frontal hairline, resulting in the appearance of a high forehead.  Men in the early stages of hair loss may also begin to notice excess shedding when they shower or comb their hair.

Even with a known genetic predisposition, hair loss can be highly distressing for a young man in his teens or early twenties.  Premature hair loss can put these men in an emotionally vulnerable and psychology fragile position, leaving them feeling alienated, unattractive, hindered socially, or even disfigured.  These men may be particularly susceptible to the numerous expensive ‘scam’ products and treatments advertised on the internet and television.

What should I do as a young man experiencing hair loss?

A good first step would be to visit your general practitioner, a dermatologist or a hair restoration specialist to evaluate your hair loss.   A physician should first educate the young patient about the likely cause of their hair loss, explain that hair loss is a progressive condition and go over possible treatment options, as well as any possible ramifications or side effects of such treatments.

Is hair transplantation a good option for young men with hair loss?

In the vast majority of cases, hair transplant is not a reasonable option for young hair loss patients.  One reason for this is that it is difficult to evaluate, at a young age, what pattern and progression hair loss will take, and therefore difficult to create a long-term plan.  Once a patient elects to have a hair transplant procedure, additional future surgeries will almost always be necessary to maintain a natural appearance as further native hair is lost.  In addition to being costly, there is a danger that hair loss will exceed limited donor supply.  Unfortunately, the younger you are when you first experience hair loss, the more hair loss you can expect will occur over the remainder of your life.

What are some better treatment options for young men experiencing hair loss?

A good first line of defense in treating hair loss is Propecia (finasteride). Propecia can slow the progression of your hair loss, prevent further hair loss, and occasionally even regrow hair.  However, Propecia works primarily in the crown region and will do little for a maturing hairline.   Another option is Rogaine (minoxidil) which is applied topically and also slows or stops hair loss, and can promote hair regrowth.  Both therapies work best when they are started early on, though any benefits will be lost if use is discontinued.  These treatments generally will not grow a significant amount of hair back in most individuals, but they will buy you some time and hopefully limit the amount of hair restoration you will require over the course of your lifetime.

But what if I really believe surgery is the right solution for my hair loss?

Hair restoration surgery should almost always be delayed until at least the age of 23.  If, at this age, you are set on having surgery, you should only consider CIT or FUE.  Strip procedures are never advisable for young patients as they leave a linear strip scar that you will have to camouflage for the rest of your life.  With CIT or FUE, you can elect to shave your head later down the road and still maintain a natural appearance because you will not have the severe scarring that strip procedures leave.  However, remember that the longer you can delay your procedure, the better off you will be.

Follica Inc. is a biotechnology firm focused on developing therapies for disorders and conditions of the hair follicle.  According to a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, Follica recently raised an additional $7.5 million in equity financing, as part of the firm’s Series B round of funding.  This funding came from the company’s previous financial backers, including PureTech, InterWest Partners and Polaris Venture Partners.  The total series B capital raised is around $13 million.

Follica specializes in treating hair follicle disorders, including androgenetic alopecia, or male pattern baldness.  It is yet unclear how much progress the company has made in developing a new therapy for combating hair loss, or whether this is even their primary objective at this time.  Regardless, many individuals are hoping that this additional funding will prompt the release of some new, and highly anticipated, hair loss treatments.

A recent episode of online chat show, MyFaceMyBody, reveals men’s top concerns about their appearance, whether they would consider cosmetic surgery and who most influences their looks.

According to this survey, men are most afraid of losing their hair, with four out of five saying it’s a concern of theirs. Furthermore, over a quarter of respondents (27%) reported that they would consider having surgical treatment for hair loss, such as a hair transplant. A third of respondents said they would shave off all of their hair if they developed bald patches.

During the program, English television star, Warren ‘Ace’ Furman speaks about his recent hair restoration surgery. Of the experience, he says: “I had a hair transplant and am thrilled with the results, I look ten years younger. Initially I wasn’t that bothered about my hair, but I was only 35 when I looked in the mirror and saw Phil Collins staring back at me.”

Men are reportedly more concerned with their appearance than we tend to assume, with almost three quarters of men (72%) saying their appearance is important to them. As far as who influences their appearance, 46% of men sighted their wives and girlfriends as having the most influence, 19% admitted that they tried to copy celebrities (top style role models included Johnny Depp and President Obama), and 34% reported they want to look good for their own satisfaction.

The top five surgical procedures men say they would consider are: nose surgery, blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery), liposuction, breast reduction and hair transplantation.

I am a 25 year old male who is a NW class 3. I like to keep his hair short so i am afraid of the strip procedure because i knows it will leave a scar. I prefers FUE, but i know it’s more expensive. I save the extra money, however to avoid the strip scar. My concern is that i have been told by strip physicians that FUE does not produce as good a yield as a strip procedure. Is this true?

Dr. Cole responded to the misinformation he’s heard from strip physicians regarding hair growth yield from FUE, and to a number of other myths that strip physicians promulgate regarding FUE.
There are two videos (Part I and Part II):

Dr. Christian Jessen is a 33-year old English television presenter, recognized for his work on the shows Supersize vs. Superskinny and Embarrassing Bodies.  Dr. Jessen recently admitted that he underwent a hair transplant procedure a year ago and is very happy with his results.

Wanting to restore his hair line and bring down his high temples, Dr. Jessen elected to have a strip hair transplant procedure at a UK clinic.  He described the strip procedure as “not painful but it is uncomfortable”, and went on to say “you also have an incision at the back of your head, which is very hard to sleep with immediately after the procedure.”  During a strip hair transplant surgery, the doctor removes a strip of scalp tissue from the back of the patient’s head; the wound is later closed using sutures.  The excised strip is dissected into follicular units (small, naturally-occurring groupings of hair).  These follicular units are then implanted into thinning or balding areas.

A less invasive alternative to the strip procedure is a transplant via the Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) technique.  This method involves the individual removal of follicular units, which are then transplanted directly into balding areas.  Unlike with strip, the FUE method does not leave the tell-tale linear scar, and requires less healing time.  Without the large excision and need for sutures, there is also much less general discomfort involved in a FUE procedure.

Dr. Jessen explained that he decided to have a HT procedure after meeting a man who’d had a hair transplant on one of his shows.  Of his transplant, Dr. Jessen explains “it’s nothing to be ashamed about. These days lots of men are doing things to improve their appearance…I’ve done this for myself and I’m really pleased with the results.”  Perhaps Dr. Jessen’s openness about his procedure, and his satisfaction as a result, will encourage other public figures to come forward and speak openly about their own hair loss and/or hair restoration surgery.