Hair Loss in Teenagers

So many things can happen when someone goes through puberty or is living those teenage years, and experiencing hair loss can be one of the most unpleasant things to experience. There are different factors behind hair loss, but in this article we’ll touch on the most common ones:

Styling products:

Some of the ingredients in mousses, gels and hairsprays are also used in industrial products such as plastics, lubricants for engines, engine degreasers, emulsifiers, paints and furniture finishers. These chemicals block hair follicles, irritate the skin out and promote hair loss. Opt instead for a safer alternative, like our 100% natural Blood of the Dragon Styling Gel (For a light to medium hold), 24/7 Styling Dragon Pomade (For a medium to strong hold) or our Curl Power, to relax, elongate and tame the frizz in your curls.

Commercial hair care products:

“More foam means your hair is clean” is something people often say, but it is not true. That foaming effect you get from your shampoo and some body washes is produced by chemicals, which end up being absorbed into your bloodstream. A product doesn’t need to lather to clean, and you shouldn’t risk your health for a belief. Besides foaming agents, these products are full of parabens, silicones, fragrances and artificial colors which strip the hair of its naturally occurring oils, debilitating it and making it more prone to hair loss. The best alternative to prevent this, is by using and rotating our 5 Element Shampoos and conditioners, which nourish and provide different ingredients that detoxify your scalp and promote hair-growth.

Styling tools and hair dyes:

In order to look better, some teenagers often change hairstyles which include the use of heated tools. These tools dehydrate and weaken the hair, giving way to split ends and brittle hair that breaks and falls out. Furthermore, hair dyes and chemical hair relaxers can be so damaging to the hair and scalp that they can promote irreversible hair loss.

Medications:

Some teenagers are medicated to treat a symptom, without addressing the root cause of the problem. Some of these medications end up creating a hormonal imbalance and blocking some enzymes from getting to where they are needed in order to let the hair continue with its cycle. The most common medications are birth control and acne pills. These drugs thin the hair out.

Poor Nutrition:

Physical image is important during these years, therefore, some teenagers will follow restrictive diets that deprive the body from essential vitamins, minerals and macronutrients needed to stimulate healthy hair-growth. Moreover, since nutrition may not be an important element in a teenager’s life, it is common for them to make poor food decisions by eating mostly processed foods. These foods are, more often than not, full of artificial and carcinogenic ingredients that when ingested, create a hormone imbalance cascade wreaking havoc on their overall health. To learn more about the best foods you can eat to promote a healthy hair click here.

Medical Conditions:

Some health conditions such as hypothyroidism, diabetes, Hashimoto’s, adrenal fatigue, Adison’s disease, PCOS, among others, contribute to the hair thinning out. Most of these diseases are preventable, and some studies have shown improvement in them when there is a lifestyle and diet change. Once these elements are instilled into an individual’s daily life, the hair cycle will return to normal.

Genes:

Androgenetic Alopecia is a hereditary condition that promotes patterns of baldness. If this gene runs in the family, it is more likely that it will be presented as receding hair line in men and top and front of the scalp in women. Depending of the type of alopecia, it can be reversible by doing lifestyle modifications including a clean diet, clean environment and use of 100% natural products.

Stress:

A stressful situation like working on a project or studying for a final can give your body the message that it’s safety is being threatened, so it releases cortisol, adrenaline, epinephrine and other hormones that get prepare you to fight or flight. Our bodies aren’t smart enough to differentiate between a tiger chasing you down or a teacher yelling at you. That’s why, it stops all functions that it doesn’t consider as important (like hair growth, reproduction, skin hydration, among others) to save the blood flow and energy to your vital organs. Doing breathing exercises, meditating, yoga or having a hobby that relaxes the mind and body can help reduce stress and bring the body to homeostasis.

Hair loss sometimes can be preventable and, for those who are already suffering from it, reversible. A change in diet, lifestyle, environment and products that are used on a daily basis can result in significant improvements in hair and overall health.

Disclaimer: The information contained in this article does not provide medical advice and is not intended to be used for medical diagnosis or treatment. In the case of any disease, you should always consult your doctor. No medical or health claims are made to treat, prevent, mitigate or remediate to illness, diseases, or medical conditions. The information on these pages is provided as support only and is offered with the hope that it may prove helpful for those who choose to take a greater responsibility for their own hair loss diagnosis and treatment.