What Can My Young Boyfriend Do About His Hair Loss
My boyfriend is 25 years old and has already started to go bald, he won’t leave the house without a hat. I can tell that it is really effecting his self-esteem. What can he do?
Hair loss can cause serious emotional and psychological distress, especially at a young age. Androgenic alopecia (genetic hair loss) is a genetic condition that is triggered by androgens, specifically DHT.
A lot of men and women are ashamed of their hair loss, and the subject is not one that they feel comfortable discussing. It is all about the approach, it is best to ask your boyfriend about his feelings first, before recommending treatment.
Medications
There are two FDA-approved treatments that slow, stop and even regrow hair for some users. The medications are called Propecia (finasteride) and Rogaine (minoxidil). Finasteride is a 5-alpha reductase inhibitor that stops the conversion of testosterone to DHT. DHT is the main hormone responsible for causing hair loss.
Minoxidil is a topical vasodilator that prolongs the hair follicles anagen (growth) phase and makes the hair shaft diameter thicker. Both minoxidil and finasteride work great together. However, these treatments should be used as a maintenance regiment.
Hair Loss Concealers
Hair loss concealers like Toppik and DermMatch work fantastic in the beginning stages of hair loss. These products add volume and the appearance of fullness. Toppik is a hair fiber that magnetically binds to thinning hair follicles and makes them thicker. DermMatch dyes the scalp and reduces the contrast and visibility of the scalp through thinning hair.
Hair Restoration
Lastly, hair transplant surgery is the only proven treatment that can regrow hair on a bald scalp. Surgical hair restoration should only be considered after the hair loss has been treated with medications for a minimum of six months.
Written and published by,
Melvin Lopez- Editorial Assistant and Forum Co-Moderator for the Hair Transplant Network and The Coalition of Independent Hair Restoration Physician
