5 Common Hair Loss Causes in Teenage Girls

While uncommon, hair loss in teenage girls does happen. This can be emotionally traumatizing for a teenage girl. During this time of her life, teens are just discovering who they are so it can be difficult to deal with something that makes them stand out from their peers. Especially when it’s something they have no control over.

Hair loss can happen for several reasons. Here are some of the most common:

Hormones – All teens go through changes in their body and hormone levels. These hormones can cause fluctuations in emotion, eating habits and hair growth. Sometimes, a hormone imbalance can trigger hair loss.  The hormone that causes hair loss is called dihydrotestosterone or DHT. Men usually have high levels of DHT but woman and girls can have low levels of testosterone as well. DHT can shrink hair follicles causing them to fall out. Hormone levels normally balance themselves out so hair loss is temporary but in some cases, it can be more severe.

Medicine – Some medication can cause hair loss, especially ones that alter hormone levels. Some teenage girls take birth control to control acne or for Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Anytime you are altering hormone levels, a side effect can be thinning hair.

Poor Nutrition – For healthy skin, nails and hair, you must provide your body with the proper nutrients. This is a common issue when teenage diets are high in starch & fats but low in fruits and vegetables. To counter these nutrient deficiencies, the body will conserve what it has for more vital bodily functions. Hair & nails are usually the first to go.

Over-Styling – Teenage girls often put a lot of effort into styling their hair. This includes using straighteners, blow dryers, curling irons as well as coloring, dyeing and putting their hair in tight buns. All this stress on your hair can make it dry and brittle. Wearing braids or pony tails too tight and too often can cause clumps of hair to fall out or bald patches.

Deeper Medical Condition – Sometimes, hair loss can be caused by medical conditions like scalp infections, thyroid issues, skin disorders or trichotillomania. If you have symptoms like scaly, inflamed skin or hair loss in big patches, consult a doctor immediately.

For more information on hair loss, please contact us at 800-785-4247 or email us.