Teenagers are often affected by the problem of hair loss. Both for girls and boys it becomes an unpleasant discovery – hair looks worse, becomes oily or dry, split ends. Especially great is the problem for teenage girls who are concerned about their appearance. In the period of life when to please the opposite sex becomes a necessity, the hair causes a lot of trouble – it quickly becomes greasy, dull, split, break at the roots or in the middle.

The peculiarity of adolescence is that the development processes proceed unevenly, and not always the organs and systems have time for the rapid growth of the body. As a result – a metabolic disorder, hormonal outbursts, and not least – changes in habits, sleep and rest patterns, “rebellion” against the useful, instilled earlier principles of nutrition. All these factors combine to affect the condition of the hair.

However, hair loss doesn’t always have innocuous causes that can be ignored, or you can rely on self-regulation of your body and normalization of hair condition without intervention and help. Hair loss can have very serious problems – diseases, developmental disorders. The doctor of particular specialization can detect them, but the trichologist, who is the first person teenagers with hair loss turn to, will refer them to. Applying to such a specialist you will receive professional advice on the state of hair, rules of hair care as well as the scheme of hair treatment if it is necessary.

Hair loss causes

Secondary causes of hair loss in children in adolescence:

1. Adherence to diets with strict calorie restriction;
2. Improper care;
3. Taking certain medications.

The main reasons for hair loss in a teenager:

• Hormonal restructuring of the body. Teenagers in the period from 11 to 17 years experiencing rapid restructuring of the body. The body grows, the sex glands begin their work, rebuilding the endocrine system. Exhibits particular activity the male sex hormone, dihydrotestosterone. Hair may fall out because of its aggressive influence on the follicles. Excess production of dihydrotesterone and its effect on hair is hereditary. Girls also experience hormonal restructuring, which worsens the quality of the scalp;
• stress. The psyche of a teenager is unstable, and the ability to resist stress is reduced. As a result, nervous tension may build up even for no apparent reason. Mood swings and displays of strong emotion are the norm for a teenager. But the state of stress causes vasospasm, resulting in poor nutrition of the hair follicles and hair loss, even outwardly healthy;
• environmental factors. Hair has a porous structure and easily absorbs harmful substances in the air. Not every teenager has the conscience to give up experimenting with cigarettes, and smoking, both active and passive, worsens the quality of hair nutrition;
• unbalanced diet. With the rapid growth of the teen body is especially vulnerable to vitamin and mineral deficiencies. In this case, to convince teenagers to eat right and full – not an easy task. Their diet is dominated by fast food, fizzy sugary drinks at the expense of healthy proteins, vegetables, cereals. Lack of iron, potassium, calcium, zinc, magnesium, phosphorus leads to the fact that the hair becomes dull, brittle, fragile and begins to fall out.

How to counteract hair loss in adolescence

Recommendations for hair loss are aimed primarily at stopping this process, and they should be followed by both teenage girls and boys. Hair loss is gradual, and therefore it is important to ensure the following conditions:

• The use of cosmetics for hair care, selected in accordance with the characteristics of the hair;
• Comb only dry hair, or wet hair – but in the shower, with balm, and only with a wide comb;
• Avoiding hair dryers, curling irons, irons;
• the choice of natural products for styling;
• masks and other products on the recommendation of a trichologist;
• regular trimming of the ends;
• appropriate weather protection from frost or sun.

How to prevent hair loss in adolescents

Dealing with hair loss in teenagers is not easy as not all medications and procedures can be prescribed for young boys and girls due to their age. Therefore, it is better to direct all efforts to the prevention of hair thinning, eliminating the main provocateurs of hair deterioration.

To do this you need to:

• Use a mild shampoo and wash your hair regularly, so that the scalp and the curls themselves remain clean. If there is no way to do without daily washing, you should use the 10 best alternatives to shampoo.
• Avoid brushing hair right after washing, as wet hair is easily damaged.
• Use products that are suitable for the type of hair and scalp. If in doubt, you should consult a dermatologist.
• Eat plenty of protein and consume a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables.
• Avoid stress, eat a healthy diet and try to get at least eight hours of sleep every night.
• If you have experienced increased hair loss after taking any medication or oral contraceptives, talk to your doctor about replacing them or continuing their use.
• Avoid tight hairstyles and complicated styles. Wear your hair loose more often. Wear weather-appropriate headgear when it is cold or hot.
• Avoid the use of hot thermal appliances, and refrain from coloring until the cause of hair loss has been diagnosed and the necessary treatment has been carried out.

These measures will not stop hair loss, but they will significantly slow down hair loss of teenagers and allow you to keep your hair while you figure out the causes and treatment if hair loss is related to health problems. Even if the hair loss was the result of less serious causes – excessive dieting or improper care – it will also take a month or two to recover, and following the rules will minimize the damage to your hair during this period.