17 Years Old and Losing My Hair - Looking For Answers
Written by Mark McKenzie, MD on June 5, 2008
I am a 17-year old boy and have been losing my hair for a year now. I am losing quite a lot of hair on top but that’s not the thing, the thing is that I am losing some hair on the sides and the back of my head and it’s really scary. There is no doubt that I have male pattern baldness but I am wondering if one becomes a 5 in the Norwood class, can that person lose density on the sides and the back or does this just happen in more severe cases like Norwood 7 and beyond?
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When experiencing hair loss at the age of 16, the usual reaction is exactly what this person expressed: “it’s really scary.” There is often a family history of male pattern baldness, and the person will often envisage himself looking like his bald dad or uncle or grandfather in a few years time.
The most important first step is to consult a physician who is knowledgeable about hair loss. Although the most likely cause is male pattern baldness, there are several medical reasons for hair loss, such as scalp dermatological conditions as well as systemic illnesses such as an underactive thyroid gland or a low blood level of iron. Read more
How Long Should I Wait After an FUE Hair Transplant To Shave My Head?
Written by John Cole, MD on June 3, 2008
How long after an FUE hair transplant before a person can - A, shave his head with a razor and B, shave his head with a number 1 or 2 setting? Also, how does HGH affect hair growth and hair loss?
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Often times the head is shaved in preparation for an FUE procedure. It is possible to shave the head immediately after a procedure, but it is probably best to wait about 3 weeks. The appearance of the shaved donor area will depend on the total number of FUE grafts obtained in a procedure. FUE removes intact follicular units from the donor area. This will result in fewer follicular units. If 25% of the follicular units are removed from the donor area, this will leave gaps in the donor area where follicular units were removed in an effort to relocate them to the top. A number 1 guard will conceal these gaps, however. It is possible to clip to a number one at any time after a FUE procedure. If you are concerned about gaps in the donor area, one way to minimize these is to add body hair into the FUE extractions at the same time that grafts are removed. Read more
