Treatment for Young Male with Possible Telogen Effluvium?

Question

I'm a 19-year-old male. Six months ago, I noticed that my hair was falling out much quicker than it ever had before. I have always had pretty thin hair, but now it is thinner than ever, and my hairline has been receding very quickly. I have a feeling that i could have a case of telogen effluvium, considering the fact that I have been extremely stressed the last year and a half. When I pull a hair out of my head, it has a little white bulb of some sort at the end, which is apparently a possible sign of telogen effluvium. What treatment can I have for this?

Jon E. Mendelsohn, MD, FACS · Answer

There are many reasons why your hair could be falling out. The number 1 reason is usually genetics.

The first question I would ask you is does hair loss run in your family?

There is a genetic test out now called Hair DX.  If the test comes back that you are at risk, that would help  determine treatment methods.

Jae Pak, MD · Answer

There is no treatment for telogen effluvium.  Hairs actually will grow back without treatment over time.  If you are concerned see a doctor for a proper exam.

Sanusi Umar, MD · Answer

Since you have been stressed for more than a year, telogen effluvium is most likely not the culprit. You are most likely suffering from an early stage of male pattern baldness, namely because your hair has always been thin and your hairline has been noticeably receding in just the past six months. Different factors contribute to hair loss, which distinctly affect men and women. Men tend to lose hair based solely on genetics. Women typically experience temporary hair loss due to psychological factors and permanently due to aging and hormonal imbalance. The most common factor in hair loss for men and women is androgenic alopecia, or pattern baldness. Pattern baldness is characterized by a well-defined pattern in men. Hair loss begins above both temples, followed by a receding hairline and crown loss. For those who experience baldness, 95 percent of them have pattern baldness as the cause. Two-thirds of men will suffer from it by the age of 35, 85 percent by the age of 50. Additionally, 25 percent of these men will experience hair loss from pattern baldness by the age of 21. You should make an appointment with your primary care physician to discuss the exact cause, as well as options.

Jeff Donovan, MD, PhD · Answer

Men with receding hairlines and some increased shedding most likely have androgenetic alopecia or early male pattern baldingIt is important to be aware that the early stages of male balding ARE associated with increased shedding. And these are indeed telogen hairs that come out !In other words, teleogen effluvium occurs during the early stages of male balding. The best treatments for early male balding are the FDA approved treatments of minoxidil and finasteride. Low level laser can be considered. Hair transplantation is usually not an option for the very early stages of male balding.

Corey L. Hartman, MD, FAAD · Answer

You should definitely see a dermatologist to determine the cause of your hair loss. I'm not sure why you feel as though you have telogen effluvium, but if you do, that particular condition will generally resolve on it's own.

William Rassman, MD (retired) · Answer

Telogen Effluvium is rarely present in young men but if it is the case, it will reverse. If it is early genetic balding, it will not reverse.  You might want to see a doctor and get a HAIRCHECK test for a good baseline measurement to compare with future measurements so that you know what is happening

Treatment for Young Male with Possible Telogen Effluvium?

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