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Is your hairline receding? You’re not alone. Hair loss affects many people across the world, regardless of age or gender. Understanding the etiological factors for baldness can help you get the right treatment that works effectively once and for all. Below is a thorough assessment of the reasons for hair loss in men under 25.

1. Genetics

95 % of hair loss is caused by genetic factors, a condition known as hereditary pattern baldness. This situation results in male pattern baldness. Balding results when there is a variation mutation of the Androgenic Receptor carried on the x chromosomes. The receptor interferes with the male hormones responsible for hair growth.

2. Hormones

The hormone dihydrotestosterone (DHT) is among the reasons for hair loss in men under 25.  This hormone is a byproduct of testosterone. It helps in the formation of male genitalia in a fetus.

However, if you are genetically predisposed to baldness, this hormone will speed up the process. DHT binds to receptors in your hair follicles and causes them to shrink, thin out, and die.

3. Environmental factors

Apart from the above reasons for hair loss in men under 25, environmental factors play a role too. Scientists agree that excess free radicals in the environment catalyze balding. 

Free radicals are unstable molecules that bind the electrons, ultimately changing their structure. These radicals cause cell damage that speeds up the aging process in hair follicles.

4. Chemo drugs

Temporary hair loss may happen due to medications used in chemotherapy. These drugs are powerful as they’re designed to attack cancerous cells.

Unfortunately, they attack hair follicle cells too. The effects of chemotherapy could be hair loss not only on your scalp but armpits, eyebrows and pubic hair as well.

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5. Scalp conditions

Psoriasis is among the notorious reasons for hair loss in men under 25. The onset of this disease is between ages 16 and 22. Psoriasis is more of a genetic condition, but it affects men more than women. The condition causes hair loss in the short term. There is no known cure for the Psoriasis. Treatment strategies aim to manage the situation to below 1% of your body’s surface area.

5. Stress, anxiety, and depression

Psychological conditions such as stress and anxiety can bring about premature hair loss by exacerbating a pre-existing situation such as Alopecia areata, Trichotillomania, or Telogen effluvium.

Alopecia areata: This is an autoimmune condition that results in rapid hair loss.  The body inadvertently attacks hair-producing cells, leading to circular bald patches. Both stress and genetic factors cause the disease. 

Trichotillomania: This is a mental disorder that makes a person pull out their hair in a frenzy. The hair pulling leaves patchy bald spots on the scalp. The leading cause of the urge to pull one’s hair is stress and obsessive-compulsive disorder. The condition is prevalent in teens. 

Telogen effluvium: Telogen is the resting face of the hair growth cycle. In this condition, stress causes hair roots to be pushed into a resting stage. Your hair will start to thin out as a result. In chronic cases, hair loss is abrupt and affects other body parts as well.

6. Protein deficiency

Vegan and vegetarian men under 25 are more susceptible to hair loss caused by protein deficiency. Your hair cells need protein to grow, just like all the other cells in your body. Keratin, specifically, is the protein required in sufficient amounts by your hair follicles.

It strengthens your hair, giving it elasticity and protection from breakage. If this essential part of your diet is rationed out, you may start to witness a thinning and receding hairline.

Photo: Pixabay

7. Autoimmune conditions

Autoimmune conditions result when the immune system fails to differentiate between normal healthy cells and foreign invaders. Autoimmune conditions that cause hair loss include Alopecia Areata, Lupus, and Hashimoto’s Disease.

Lupus:  The Lupus Foundation states that nearly 1.5 million Americans are affected by the disease.  Its most prominent cause is genetic factors. The condition affects many areas of the body leading to fatigue, headache, anemia, and hair loss.

Hashimoto’s Disease: In this condition, your immune system attacks the thyroid gland.  This causes the inflammation of the liver, impairing its ability to function, leading to an underactive thyroid.  Hair loss is one of the symptoms of Hashimoto’s Disease.

8. Antidepressants and blood thinners

Men under 25 can go bald not only because of anxiety and depression but also due to the medication prescribed to treat these conditions.  Antidepressants and blood thinners cause the hair growth cycle to enter the resting phase/ telogen. More hair is thus shed, leading to baldness.

9. Too much vitamin A

The uptick in the consumption of multivitamins could be among the reasons for hair loss in men under 25. The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey of 2008 revealed that after the age of 18, men have a higher intake of vitamin A supplements compared to women.

Unfortunately, too much vitamin A can cause hair loss. The recommended daily intake (RDA) for vitamin A is 900mcg. However, supplements often contain more than 3000 mcg.  

If you’re experiencing hair loss, you might be looking at ways to solve the problem. Surgical options are invasive, costly, and take time to have an effect. Non-surgical hair replacement, however, gets the job done effortlessly and with much faster results.