Although we usually associate hair loss with middle age, it's quite common to begin to lose hair before the age of 25. In fact, research shows that approximately 16 percent of men between 18 and 29 years of age are affected by moderate to extensive hair loss.
In fact, about 25% of bald men experienced the first signs of hair loss before age 21, according to the Cleveland Clinic. It can be upsetting and even shocking to discover that you're losing your hair in your 20s.
Hair Loss in Your 20s
The majority of androgenetic alopecia (or male pattern baldness) sufferers start noticing their hair loss in their mid to late twenties. By age 20, about 20% of men have at least some visible hair loss.
About 85 percent of men will experience hair loss or alopecia by age 70. A fourth of these men could experience hair loss before the age of 21, says the American Hair Loss Association. There are several reasons why men under 25 experience may experience hair loss that are not all related to genetics.
On average it takes 15-25 years for men to go completely bald. This process can begin at any age. About two thirds of men are either bald or have a balding pattern by the age of 60. In a nutshell, there is no particular age when you can expect to see hair loss.
One popular myth is that hair loss in men is passed down from the mother's side of the family while hair loss in women is passed down from the father's side; however, the truth is that the genes for hair loss and hair loss itself are actually passed down from both sides of the family.
One-fifth of men will experience significant hair loss by age of 20(!), and that percentage grows proportional to age. Bauman says that significant loss increases steadily with age: 30 percent will experience it in their 30s, 40 percent in 40s, and so on. “This math proves true for men into their 90s,” he says.
Hormonal changes, autoimmune diseases, thyroid disorders, and stress are among the known causes of hair loss in young men and women. However, diet can also strongly influence hair health. The growing popularity of vegetarian and vegan diets could be contributing to millennial hair loss.
Currently, there are two medications, minoxidil (Rogaine) and finasteride (Proscar, Propecia), that are used to treat male pattern baldness. They are both considered safe for use at your age. Minoxidil is a topical treatment that is applied directly to the scalp and works by promoting hair growth and thickness.
Few people expect hair loss to happen as early as their 20s or 30s. When it does happen, it is usually caused by a specific trigger that can be reversed. The three most common triggers for hair loss in young women are stress, dieting, and hormonal changes.
This genetic condition, also called Androgenic alopecia, affects both men and women of different ages. Men being in the state of MPB can suffer from hair loss as early as at their 20s or even at their teens. This is a widespread and quite normal situation.
Androgenetic alopecia, aka male pattern baldness, is one of the most common causes of hair loss and balding in your 20s. A genetic condition that's impacted by hormonal factors, male pattern baldness usually begins in your 20s or 30s.
Hair loss and thinning are incredibly common for people in their twenties, and when we consider the complex process of hair growth and regeneration, it's really no surprise. Hair lives in a four-step cycle — it grows, rests, falls out and then regenerates.
But baldness can be deceiving: Two-thirds of men face hair loss by age 35, and a bad genetic hand is often to blame. Male-pattern baldness is an inherited sensitivity to dihydrotestosterone (DHT, a by-product of testosterone), which leads to finer hair, a receding hairline, and finally a deserted scalp.
About 70% of men will lose hair as they get older. And 25% of bald men see first signs of hair loss before age 21. “Recent advances offer a lot of hope in both treating and preventing different types of baldness,” says dermatologist Amy Kassouf, MD.
Can hair loss be cured or reversed. There is no cure for hair loss. Some hair loss is temporary and the hair will grow back. For those experiencing male pattern baldness, treatments like Finasteride and Propecia can help halt hair loss and in some cases stimulate regrowth.
Stress and hair loss don't have to be permanent. And if you get your stress under control, your hair might grow back. If you notice sudden or patchy hair loss or more than usual hair loss when combing or washing your hair, talk to your doctor.
Hiding the Hair Loss or Thinning Hair
Hair loss and thinning hair is enough reason to shave your head if you want to hide your hair situation. A smooth bald shave is much better than outgrowing hair around bald patches. Shaving the head is the easiest thing to do and easier than trying to cover up bald spots.
Male pattern baldness does not indicate a medical disorder, but it may affect self-esteem or cause anxiety. The hair loss is usually permanent.
Although we usually associate hair loss with middle age, it's quite common to begin to lose hair before the age of 25. In fact, research shows that approximately 16 percent of men between 18 and 29 years of age are affected by moderate to extensive hair loss.
So, for the questions “Do women like bald men?” the overwhelming majority of women gave positive answers. 87.5% of women of different ages and nationalities surveyed find bald men attractive compared to only 12.5% of women, who gave negative answer.
The X or female chromosome carries the primary baldness gene, and men inherit this X chromosome from their mothers. This makes the hereditary factor around baldness most dominant on your mother's side.
Skipping a Generation: Myth or Fact
There is no scientific basis for the idea that baldness skip generations, regardless of any old wives tales you may have heard from the grapevine.
If you want to prevent hair loss, you can also prioritize a diet high in healthy proteins, Omega-3 fatty acids, and fresh fruits and vegetables. If you're trying to prevent baldness, you can take vitamins such as iron, biotin, vitamin D, vitamin C, and zinc.