Steps to Prevent Hair Loss When You Are a Teenage Boy

For teenage boys, the mere thought of losing hair is one not to be taken lightly or even seriously. Teen males experiment with multiple hair styles during the transition into adulthood, mistakenly believing they're impervious to hair loss as a benefit of their youth. The reality is that male-pattern baldness doesn't discriminate. It affects the old and some as young as 14. And because hair loss tends to be far worse in boys than girls, they must take special caution in addressing the issue.

Vitamins

• Hair loss in teens can be a sign of vitamin deficiency. Since teenagers--especially boys--tend to subscribe to the essential food groups of potato chips, soda and candy bars, they are at increased risk of losing those beloved follicles. The key to improving a diet is to incorporate more meat or other foods rich in protein. Vegetables are also rich in nutrients. If eating right isn't on the agenda, dietary supplements can help offset baldness.

Stress

• Teenagers these days are worn out now more than ever. They have to deal with schoolwork that never seems to end and parents nagging in their ears. This can lead to stress, which in turn causes an hormonal imbalance that throws off the glands responsible for hair growth. Stress can also come from peer pressure to try drugs and alcohol, as well as going out of your way to fit in with a certain crowd or clique. Bothersome as it may be, stress can be managed by taking deep breaths, setting smaller goals that are easier to attain and accepting yourself for who you truly are.

Androgenic Alpoecia

• As the most common from of hair loss in men, androgenic alopecia or male-pattern baldness is a condition that affects 30 percent of all white males by the age of 30, according to the University of Melbourne, and thins hair through the scalp. Because it is hereditary, there are few ways to treat alopecia. Options include Rogaine, a medicine used in treating high blood pressure that can cause hair growth in individuals through skin application; Propecia, a medication specifically for the condition taken orally; hair transplants, in which hair from other parts of your body are surgically removed and applied to areas with little hair; and wigs. Traction alopecia, which largely affects African-American women, happens when you wear tight hairstyles around the scalp and can be treated by altering or discontinuing your styling process and avoiding chemical processing.

Acceptance

• Male-pattern baldness or hair loss is likely to happen to you sooner or later. Studies from The American Academy of Dermatology show that the chances of becoming bald increase 10 percent per every decade of a man's life. Coming to terms with the almost certain inevitability that your flowing mullet will go the way of Betamax will help ease the pain. And hey, there's still wigs, if you're really desperate.