Category: Age

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Can a 16 Year Old Use Propecia? – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

I am a 16 year old male who has been losing hair in the crown area only for the past 2 years. I don’t really see any hairs in the drain or on my pillow, but my crown area is getting thinner and more noticable. I was told I could not use propecia until I was 18 or 19 years old. What would be the reason for that and is it true? Is there anything else I can do?? I was told to use Rogaine, but does that actually work??

Safety of Propecia (finasteride) is studied at age 18 and above. Get your hair mapped out for miniaturization and let’s get a metric for your hair loss and a diagnosis. With that in hand and your parents’ cooperation, a good doctor may elect to put you on Propecia if everything is understood and risks are discussed in detail.

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Hair Transplants for Men in Their Early 20s – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

For those of us in our early 20 thinking about hair transplants, do you have before/after photos of men who decided to get a transplant at an early age? I’m interested to see what the balding progression would look like, especially if the man uses propecia.

Look at the Norwood classification below and you will see the progression of hair loss that is possible. Some people follow the loss pattern going from a Class 2, to a 3, then to a 4, and then on and on. Others will thin in the Class 6 pattern and not go through the various stages. What is important to be aware of, is that only about 7% of men progress to a full Class 7 pattern so just because you are a Class 3 pattern balding person, it does not mean that you will advance to a Class 4, 5, 6 or 7 pattern. The genetic factors that determine the final pattern vary between people.

Norwood Chart

The problem with young men (under the age of 25) is that their balding patterns are often not quite clearly defined. I generally like to wait until at least 25 years old, following the patient with miniaturization mapping regularly to understand the progression of the balding process and the effects of drugs like Propecia. If one transplants a 20 year old before the pattern is fixed, a long term Master Plan can not be derived. If this 20 year old becomes a Class 7 patient, transplanting him as if he is limited to a Class 3 pattern might start using up more hair for future pattern loss than he has. The problem is that we do not want to run out of donor hair and look freaky as the pattern progresses.

Balding Forum - Hair Loss Discussion

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I Want to Look Into Hair Restoration In 4 Years – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Hello
I’m only 16 and i have a terrible baldness. Rogaine and propecia didn’t have any effect on me after a year of use so i think that the only solution is an operation later(after 3 years).so i’d like to know if the method of hair restoration can be used in 2010 and if i can do operate at the age of 20 years old.

Severe balding at age 16 is not common. You should be evaluated by a hair specialist to confirm your diagnosis and rule out other causes that may result in premature hair loss. If you are diagnosed with androgenetic alopecia or male pattern baldness with no other causes involved, the best thing is to prevent further loss by taking the medication finasteride. Only after examination of your hair loss and the changes in its pattern, can we tell you what is the best timing for a hair transplant procedure. Hair transplants a rarely performed in men under the age of 24 years old. Please get good metrics on your hair situation by getting your hair mapped out for miniaturization so you can follow scientifically what is happening to you.

Balding Forum - Hair Loss Discussion

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Young Teen Girl With Hair Loss Questions – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Hello. Lately I have been experiencing excess hair loss. I am only 13 years old (female), and nobody in my family has had any hair loss problems. Everyone has a full head of hair. I still have tons of hair, but more hair is coming out than it used to. I lose probably about 150 hairs a day. Is this normal? Should I do something?

QUESTIONS:

  1. Can a dry scalp cause hair loss?
  2. Am I losing the right amount of hair?
  3. Is there anything I can do to stop it?
  4. Can going through puberty cause hair loss?
  5. I am stressed because of my hair loss, and hair loss is caused by stress. WHAT DO I DO?!

PLEASEPLEASEPLEASEPLEASEPLEASEPLEASEPLEASE help.
Thank you

To answer your questions in the order in which they were asked –

  1. Dry scalp does not cause hair loss.
  2. It is normal to lose the 100 hairs a day. Sometimes more. There are other hairs growing at the same time.
  3. There is nothing you can do about it. (sorry)
  4. Puberty may be a factor in your hair loss situation.
  5. Stress can cause hair loss and stress of losing hair can be a vicious cycle (to a certain degree).

If you are a regular, healthy teenage girl, it may only be just a phase, but if this bothers you that much, you should see your primary care doctor. Get your parents involved. Let them know what’s going on and have an appointment setup with your physician. This might not be anything to be concerned about, but if you are worried, best to get it checked out with an in-person exam.

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Hair Loss InformationCan an 18 Year Old Woman Develop Female Baldness? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

hi i was wondering if its possible that an 18 year old woman can develop the female pattern baldness at the age of 18 and with no history of family baldness.

thank you

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Although anything is possible, it is rare to occur at such a young age, but it does happen. If you are losing hair and suspect that there is something wrong, you should see a medical doctor for any health realted issues that may be causing your hair loss. (most common cause of hair loss in women is a medical condition) as hair loss may be sign of other underlying health issues.

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FUE for 21 Year Old – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I was Just wondering why you wouldn’t advise FUE at the age of 21 ? What is your advice? Kind Regards!

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There is no recommended age for FUE, as opposed to a regular strip hair transplant procedure. The issue for a 21 year old is knowing what are we treating and finding out where the is balding going. In most 21 year olds, we really do not have a clue.

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70 Year Old Woman Just Started Thinning – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Hi Dr. Rassman,

I just found your web site an hour ago. I have a very specific question:

My hair has been thinning at the hairline (above the forehead and can see through to the scalp) Thinning last 2-3 years. The sides above my ears have thinned out also. I am 70 years old, still wear long hair (my previously feminine crowning “glory.”) I take estrogen-all appropriately prescribed by my gyne. Good homeostasis with estrogen!

Why is this happening? My late daddy was bald at age 30. Any genetic connection to me. Anything safe I can use to stop any progression. I notice people look up at my forehead hairline so I know they see the same thinning scalp which concerns me.

Yes, Dr. Rassman, it is just as important at age 70 to be beautiful as age 20. :-)
Won’t you respond to me?

I totally agree with you that “it is just as important at age 70 to be beautiful as age 20”.

Several question and answers are posted about female pattern baldness in the Female Hair Loss category of this site.

You need to be seen by a hair specialist for confirmation of the diagnosis and pattern of your baldness. Women with baldness need to be tested for some medical conditions that may cause hair loss; among those, thyroid disease, iron deficiency, hormonal and autoimmune diseases. Some of these conditions can be easily treated and the process of baldness may be reversed.

You need to know that women do not necessary follow the phenotype of baldness of their male ancestors. Unlike male pattern baldness, female hair loss is generally more diffuse with no preserved area of hair that could be used for transplant. That is why for a typical female pattern baldness, hair transplantation is rarely indicated. Minoxidil is the only FDA-approved medication that will treat hair loss in women, but first you must be sure that the hair loss is not medically induced.

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12 Year Old Daughter Has Bald Spots Since Birth – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

My daughter is 12 years old now, and when she was little and her hair finally grew in, she had a bald spot right in the center of her head. Her doctors told me not to worry about it, but I awalys have. I thought as she got older her hair would get thicker, but it never has. Yesterday, my daughter show me another spot on her head which is almost bald, I called her doctor, to find out what to do. She is doing research as I write this to you. I was hoping for anything you could share with me. My daughter is so upset and I can not comfort her with any kind of reasoning. Please get back to me. Thank you.

This is a situation where face to face discussion and examination is critical. This is not an internet problem. You need a skilled doctor (dermatologist in your area) to examine her and then render an opinion. If she is upset, not taking her to a good doctor does more damage than need be.

Balding Forum - Hair Loss Discussion

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Is Propecia Effective in Your 50’s? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hi Doc,

2 questions. Still have good hair with balding at crown. Is propecia effective in your 50’s? Heard it wasn’t. Age 54.

Also, after a few days on Propecia noticed brain fog and anxiety attacks. Any experience with propecia causing anxiety?

Thanks

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It works best when the hair loss is more recent. Men in their 50s generally have already passed the rapid hair loss phase, so the impact of this drug in the 50s is not as much as in the mid-20s. Anxiety is a known stress that makes genetic balding more rapid in many men, even 50 year olds.

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Limitation for a Perm in an Aging Woman? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I am peri-menopausal (50 years old) and was wondering if getting a perm would hold, as with all the hormonal changes I am and will be facing may affect this?

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Having a ‘perm’ should add body to your hair and make it easier to style. The hormonal changes you are experiencing and will experience in the future should not be a factor in your stying decisions (to have or not have a perm).