As an adult, losing your hair can be very distressing. As an image-conscious, insecure teenager, however, a hair loss condition can be devastating.
Going to school or college every day and facing the often harsh and insensitive judgement of your peers can be very damaging to the self-esteem of an adolescent with hair loss, which is why it’s important to get a formal diagnosis from the doctor and find out what exactly is causing the hair to fall out.
Hair loss in teens can be caused by a number of factors and conditions, such as:
• A medical condition or illness – i.e. thyroid disease, polycystic ovary syndrome or other hormonal conditions
• Medication – Hair loss can often be a side effect of acne medications or diet pills, both of which are taken by some teens
• Alopecia areata – An autoimmune disease causing patchy hair loss, the onset of which is often linked to stress
• Androgenetic alopecia (pattern baldness) – A hereditary hair loss condition
• Trichotillomania – This is a psychological disorder in which the person feels a compulsive urge to pull their own hair out.
• Poor nutrition – People who have eating disorders such as bulimia or anorexia may be at risk from hair loss