Hair thinning in 14yr old son. Advice?

[Lindos1]

Any advice about what could help hair thinning above ears in 14yr old son. He's v upset. Anyone had this issue & found anything that helps (not sure where to post this).
Many thanks

Have you taken him to the GP to rule out medical causes? Is there a history of male-pattern baldness in the family?

Another that says go to go as could be a good/ medical thing. Best of luck op x

Probably a hormone imbalance due to puberty. Or could be thyroid/iron etc - he needs some blood tests to work out whats causing it.

FWIW one of my DSs has been losing hair (make pattern baldness) since he hit 20 a couple of years ago. He tried the topical sprays to try and regain it, but it didn't work, so he shaved it quite short. Recently restarted with the spray for a second attempt and his hair is now growing back!

If it’s testosterone related and you are offered anything to help your son with regrowing his hair then make sure its short enough that the spray can get right to the scalp to give it the best chance.

Hope you get it sorted asap, it must be very upsetting for him.

I'm a bloke and started losing my hair in my early teens. I was nicknamed 'old man' at school.
Once I got to 16 or so and starting going to the pub I realised that going bald actually had the advantage that I was never asked my age in a pub or cinema.
I've found that as I've got older, friends who are losing their hair in later life seem to get really up tight about it.
In my early career I found that people tended to take me more seriously than I might have expected given my level, which I suspect is because they assumed I was older than I was.
So your son has my sympathy - but please assure him that it really isn't all bad.

Does he take a multivitamin/have a good diet? Could be low iron or zinc. Definitely worth getting a dr to check it out.

GP for bloods.

Ah thanks everyone for the replies. Didn't think I'd get any answers. All v helpful thank you x

My DS at 18 bought minoxidil online which also comes with something beginning with F which you apply and take together

It worked wonders on his hair and made it really thick again

Minoxidil is known to regrow and thicken hair

It's very good

Finasteride

I'm fairly sure he used a company called Manual after a lot of research into it

You have to keep using it for it to work

It's been around for years so it's tried and tested

So go to GP first to tule anything out

Then try minoxidil and finasteride

Really sorry this is affecting your son, it’s hard at any age never mind 14. If the thinning is just above his ears and nowhere else, has he thought about having a bald fade haircut around the sides and back and longer on top? Fashionable hairstyle and it might hide it.

This is quite random but does he use antihistamine in particular Loratadine? My DSs hair went thin when he was using this which was distressing but we worked out that it is a side effect for some people. He switched to another antihistamine and now it’s fine.

But expensive and will need to be used for the rest of his life. Has he seen a trichologist?

@Bignanna

Obviously it's going to cost £

No one is under any illusions that it won't

Point is it works

I'm not sure about in children but often there's an imbalance of DHT or other hormonal imbalance. There's a whole subreddit about hair loss.

www.reddit.com/r/Hairloss/

You would def need to see a GP though or perhaps a trichologist, could be alopecia or something.

Also this subreddit may be helpful

https://www.reddit.com/r/tressless/

Not done anything yet. Looks like GP/blood test as starting point, then take it from there. All the suggestions are so helpful- appreciate your help x

If the sufferer is only 18 that will be a phenomenal amount. At that age I would be getting professional advice anyway, as minoxidil will work, but the cause needs to be found

@Bignanna

OP has been advised by PP to get medical advice therefore I don't need to give OP that advice again

My advice is different and regards something tried and tested

OP asked for advice so I gave some

I have no idea why you @Bignanna need to butt in on my advice thank you very much

I would book appt with GP as first step. My son starting to lose hair around 19 and by 24 had shaved it. We have v early MPB in the family. It’s really hard for them to go through so young. There are treatments out there if he decides that route (which he may do being so young). Also if he’s an instagram user check out baldcafe which is all about men (young and old) experiencing this, it’s quite a positive site.