ERA, I'm eighteen and losing my hair. Why?

[Nick Nehidnyk]

Okay, so this is going to be a bit strange. I'm a dude who's going to be eighteen in about two months. My whole life I've had really thick hair, but in the past few months I've started to lose it. It doesn't seem to be male pattern baldness; my hairline isn't receding as well as I can tell, and my genetics don't make it seem likely at all.

Right now I think it could be either a vitamin deficiency of some sort or stress. The latter is pretty viable: I started the year taking seven AP classes, two of which were online, but I was failing one so horribly that I had to drop it, and I've still struggled considerably. My hair has also been graying for a while, and that's only gotten worse. My grades have been poor and I've really struggled mentally and emotionally in the past few months. I say all this in case anyone's heard of a really stressful academic year causing these sorts of problems.

More than anything I'm just extremely frightened. I don't know what's happening to me, and while I don't think it's genetic, that is a harrowing but realistic possibility.

If necessary, I could upload photographs, but I'd rather not unless they're needed.

 

[RedMercury]

Did you ask your doctor?

 

[kristoffer]

God is cruel. Don't fight it, go for the bald look and own it. You cannot fight it. I repeat: there is no good receding hairline look. Maybe grow a beard if you can.

 

[RoninZ]

Well it sounds like stress with everything going on in your life but maybe you could try your primary doctor, he might recommend to see a dermatologist though but between them they should be able to give you a more definitive answer. Certain medications can cause hair loss also if your taking any.

 

[Joule]

Genetics.

 

[Trained Rage]

Medication, Drugs, Genetics.

 

[JustinBailey]

Definitely start with a doctor's visit. There are only so many diseases / conditions that cause hair loss.

Almost always it is genetics, which I know sucks to hear, but it is what it is.

 

[Cybersai]

I started losing my hair at 20-22, I am now 32 and have a bald spot. We just got unlucky, it's nothing medical wise to be concerned about.

 

[Tambini]

If you're worried about it go see your doctor

 

[Nick Nehidnyk]

God is cruel. Don't fight it, go for the bald look and own it. You cannot fight it. I repeat: there is no good receding hairline look. Maybe grow a beard if you can.

Click to shrink...

I know, I know. But I'm still clinging to hope because my hairline hasn't been affected, it's just like it's falling out. I guess if it's genetic I should just accept it but dude, this seems like something else.

 

[echoshifting]

I don't think it's anything to be worried about, medically at least. I knew someone that lost his hair fast at eighteen and he was fine.

 

[Strangelove_77]

You should probably go to a dermatologist or something. I'd imagine that's not someone one should put off for too long. Don't live with doubt.

Personally, I'd lose my shit if I started losing a noticeable amount of hair.

 

[Syf]

See a doc to be sure but it's probably just bad genetics luck dude. One of my friends in high school was 100% bald by 20, didn't let it get him down. Own it.

 

[Seesaw15]

Give us a before and after pic op.

 

[PlanetSmasher]

Get your stress level down at the bare minimum. If it IS stress-triggered, then in about two to three months you should notice it thickening again. Stress-based hair loss generally isn't permanent.

 

[Dullahan]

If you still have your hairline, then you have diffuse thinning. Which can be anything from male pattern baldness, to malnutrition, to stress, to alcoholism. But visible hair loss at 18 doesn't sound good. Thinning hair that young is almost always 100% genetic, and the younger you start losing, the more you lose sadly.

 

[JoRu]

You should talk to your doctor about it. If it's not from genetics it's probably stress-induced and if you manage to get your stress levels down it's likely to grow back eventually. I guess it's possible stress can also speed up any hereditary process of hair loss; I had a prolonged period of stress and during that time my hairline receded like crazy. I feel better now and while nothing's grown back my hair loss has completely stopped. I don't know anything though, so better if you just talk to your doctor.

 

[ShineALight]

Happened to me after a few stressful monhs (stress can be a trigger if you're genetically disposed) when I was 18. I'll be 30 in April and it's getting pretty thin up there. Sorry, man.

 

[Travo]

I started losing my hair at 20-22, I am now 32 and have a bald spot. We just got unlucky, it's nothing medical wise to be concerned about.

Click to shrink...

Yep, this. I had a friend who was completely bald in high school.

 

[PlanetSmasher]

Also, if your hair is already noticeably graying at 18 and your hairline is intact, then it's almost definitely stress.

 

[Virtua Saturn]

Started happening to me when I was about 18 as well. I had no genetic history for it but it happened anyway lol. My best advice is to giver yourself buzz cuts and shave it once a bald spot gets bigger. It's no so bad. It makes your more distinguished.

 

[Agent_ShortBus]

You're just gonna have to get short hair cuts until you get a bald spot and then just go for it completely and go bald. My hair is thinning up top also. I'm 27 but it started when I was 20. As soon as there is a bald spot the rest of my hair is coming off. I really miss having long hair and wish I could do it one more time but it just turns out bad lol.

 

[LilZippa]

Looking back at photos, of me as a senior in high school, I can see hair loss back then. Get used to it and shave your head cause I waited way to long before I did.

 

[Tideas]

genetics or stress

 

[Rogote]

Been seeing some receding hairline at my temples in the last few years as well. Not dramatic, but it's not the boy'ish hairline anymore. 28yo.

 

[BeforeU]

genetics

 

[nightstalker962]

If you're thinning at 18, you've got a good 10 years OP before you gotta shave that shit.

 

[Skatterd]

As someone who also started losing their hair around then; you're better off embracing it. Shave it, own it, whatever works for you. Get it checked out if you're worried but don't let it define your life.

 

[psynergyadept]

You just got the wrong end of genetics, my friend was roughly your age when he started losing his hair...now he's bald.

 

[bsigg]

Genetics are probably the cause.

Does your grandpa on your mother's side have hair? If he's bald, your odds of having the trait that leads to baldness goes up significantly.

 

[Deleted member 33057]

As others said - genetics, stress. One or the other.

I started losing hair at the end of college (21) but was also growing a beard. Went full bald a couple years later and kept the beard. Best decision ever.

 

[Tesseract]

just keep it shaved close. don't go fully bald, just roll with it.

look to jason statham when in doubt.

 

[LexusNexus]

Don't fight it, and don't wait too long before you decide to start shaving it. The partially balding look is a definite no. I'm embarrassed when I see pictures of myself from before I started shaving my head. I just shake my head and wonder what the hell was I thinking.

It's better to start shaving it early and learn to rock the look

 

[Deleted member 29939]

Could be telogen effluvium

https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1071566-overview

Had this a few months after a car accident. Body went into survival mode after the shock, apparently, and later that resulted in temporary vitamin deficiency on low priority things like hair, which caused difuse shedding.

I could see my scalp after a shower for the first time ever. Being stressed over this just made it go on for a longer period of time. Eventually stopped and all my hair grew back exactly as before.

Not to get your hopes up but it could be this.

 

[Pein]

Go to a dr, could be a thyroid or vitamin deficiency, could be genetics. Go to the dr and get it checked out.

Also you don't have to shave it all off, my hair was starting to thin and I started using rogaine, vitamins and some good shampoo and my hair looks great. You just gotta do it early before your George costanza mode.

 

[Br3wnor]

Friend of mine had crazy thick hair until he was 20, then started cutting his hair shorter and shorter until he was obviously bald by mid 20's. Hair had stared falling out when he was 20.

See a doctor but it's good chance it's just beginning of balding. Genetics of it can come from either side of the family so don't base it off just your dad or your grandpa or something.

My dad had his hair start thinning in his 20's, I'm 31 and still have beastly hair with no signs of balding. My moms dad and her brother all had full heads of hair late into life so I think I got it from them.

 

[Heckler456]

Stop pulling your pud, Jesus warned you not to!

 

[CallMeShaft]

It'd take a hell of a lot of stress to start making a 17yo go bald. You'd also have to be really freaking low on vitamins for it to be a deficiency at your age.

Go ask a doctor. If he/she can't help you out, shave it all off.

 

[Kirblar]

Super-thick hair going bald early is a pretty common thing.

 

[bsigg]

Friend of mine had crazy thick hair until he was 20, then started cutting his hair shorter and shorter until he was obviously bald by mid 20's. Hair had stared falling out when he was 20.

See a doctor but it's good chance it's just beginning of balding. Genetics of it can come from either side of the family so don't base it off just your dad or your grandpa or something.

Click to shrink...

The mother carries the dominant trait for hair in men. She gets the trait from her father.

 

[Rogote]

Hair loss is such a stupid fucking random thing when you consider it's mostly a guy things. Like, why? Stop it?

 

[Br3wnor]

The mother carries the dominant trait for hair in men. She gets the trait from her father.

Click to shrink...

I added to my post but there you go. My moms dad had full head of hair until his death at 93 so makes sense I'm still not having issues at 31.

 

[Pein]

Hair loss is such a stupid fucking random thing when you consider it's mostly a guy things. Like, why? Stop it?

Click to shrink...

Hair looks good?

 

[Slammin_Hammon]

Check with a specialist if you can. I'd wager stress is the culprit. I knew a girl in high school who lost tons of her hair due to stress and wore a wig for years as a result, though luckily for her she's in a better emotional state now and has most of her hair back to normal.

 

[Nick Nehidnyk]

The mother carries the dominant trait for hair in men. She gets the trait from her father.

Click to shrink...

Hair loss is practically nonexistent on my mom's side of the family; her father died in his seventies I believe, and his hair had barely thinned at all. My dad's a little thinner in his sixties, my paternal grandfather had hair until he died in his late nineties, while one of my dad's brothers has youthful hair and one is bald, both in their fifties.

What I am getting from this thread is that there is no point worrying about it yet; what happens happens. I may go to my doctor anyway and ask about it, but he won't have an answer either.

Could be telogen effluvium

https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1071566-overview

Had this a few months after a car accident. Body went into survival mode after the shock, apparently, and later that resulted in temporary vitamin deficiency on low priority things like hair, which caused difuse shedding.

I could see my scalp after a shower for the first time ever. Being stressed over this just made it go on for a longer period of time. Eventually stopped and all my hair grew back exactly as before.

Not to get your hopes up but it could be this.

Click to shrink...

I know that I'm being crazy, but this sounds like what's happening to me. My sleep has been shit, I've become very suicidal and started self-mutilating, and my anxiety and stress have become uncontrollable. I know it seems silly, but this seems like it could be the case.

 

[FreezePeach]

I know that I'm being crazy, but this sounds like what's happening to me. My sleep has been shit, I've become very suicidal and started self-mutilating, and my anxiety and stress have become uncontrollable. I know it seems silly, but this seems like it could be the case.

Click to shrink...

um yeah, go see a doctor.

 

[Tesseract]

if you're selfmutliating, you should see a gp, a psychiatrist, and a psychologist.

 

[Syf]

Well this took a turn. See someone about those issues first.

 

[Deleted member 29939]

I added to my post but there you go. My moms dad had full head of hair until his death at 93 so makes sense I'm still not having issues at 31.

Click to shrink...

My maternal granpa was bald. I have so much hair it takes a while for water to actually hit my scalp. Hairline at 30 is the same as when I was a kid.

My brother is 41 and his literally jams clippers. My sister could loose half of her hair and you'd just notice it as perhaps less volume.

Its not an exact science

 

[Kuro]

It could be diffuse alopecia areata. Mine is triggered by stress and some kind of food allergy. Woke up one day with a bald spot the size of a dollar coin out of nowhere and it grew back after 3 months of steroid ointment.