I Noticed My 15 Year Old Son Is Losing Hair Already!
Hello Dr.
I started losing hair at about 22yrs of age. I am now 39. My son is 15 and is showing signs of significant thinning around his hairline and I was wondering if it is considered abnormal for someone his age to lose hair this early in life, ultimately robbing him of his youth. I have visited the family doctor who could offer no cause or solution for this problem. He suggested rogaine but I noticed on the package that it doesn’t help with frontal hair loss and you should be at least 18yrs of age to use the product. Any suggestions or solutions would be of help.
Thank you for your time
Rogaine likely won’t help him if he’s losing hair in the hairline, regardless of age. It’s not abnormal, but it’s not extremely common to lose the hairline at 15 years old. Perhaps he’s got a mature hairline process starting?
As for the other hair loss medication, Propecia — there are many things to consider before putting him on it. It’s the only medication that might slow down the balding process (assuming that is what is going on), but you need to have a great doctor who will analyze your son and work through the diagnosis as well as his growth phases in his bones and elsewhere. His age is a potential red flag, as Propecia was tested for men over the age of 18. I’ll let his doctor make the determination about prescribing, though. There is help, but you need to address this with his pediatrician.
Whatever you do, even if you notice it, don’t bring it up to him.
He might not notice it and ignorance is bliss. In my case, the day I discovered I was going bald was the day I started looking for it every chance I got and being self-conscious about it.
Let him be and when he discovers it and it has an impact on him, be ready with any information you can give him.
Take care of it now! Don’t wait till he is depressed and isolates himself from his friends. I wish I took take of it when I was his age. It just gets worse. treatment is the way to go! Its medicine and laser treatment. I’m 26 and see new hair coming in.