It seems the problem of hair loss is no longer only confined to middle-aged and aging men.
Dermatologists said teenagers are also facing such problems and the numbers are rising — from an average of one to two cases a month, to a week.
And the youngest patient is reportedly only six years old. In such case, the usual cause is the lack of nutrient intake or malnourishment. Excessive hair loss experienced by children can also be caused to scalp bacteria and fungi; these scalp conditions clog the pores and affect the health of the inner cells, tissues, and hair follicles, hence disrupting proper hair growth.
For hair loss in teenagers and young adults, stress is said to be a major cause.
Dermatologists said environmental factors could be a cause too, such as smoking or dieting, or even inappropriate hair care habits. Lifestyle of teenagers and young adults that include smoking, constant alcohol consumption, and stress from work can take their toll on the health of the hair follicles. These suppress the proper circulation in the scalp; hence, nutrients are not able to reach the hair follicles and hair growth is greatly disrupted.
Hair loss treatment for teens is different from that for adults.
Doctors rarely use medicine; instead, they use counselling to help patients understand the importance of good health.
For more severe cases, doctors may work with psychiatrists to help patients overcome their obsessive compulsive disorders.
Doctors in Singapore are considering a new form of treatment that is based on embryonic stem cells.
A solution is injected directly into the scalp to stimulate hair growth.
According to Dr. Eileen Tan from Eileen Tan Skin, Laser and Hair Transplant Clinic, the benefit of such treatment is that there is no need to ingest or apply any medicine every day.
Industry players are working with the National Skin Centre to conduct tests. If the results are favourable, they may import this technology.
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