Her Alopecia Womens Hair Loss Forums

Hi! I'm 19 and just starting to notice a thinner texture to my hair and a widening part. Both my parents have very noticeable hair loss, and my 21-year-old brother already has a dramatic receding hairline. My problems aren't that bad yet, but I know they're coming - is it a wise idea to start a preventative minoxidil routine? I love my hair - it's waist-length, blond, and curly - and I'd do anything to protect it as long as I can, but I don't want to become dependent on a treatment before I actually need it, especially if its effects lessen in time.

Thanks much!

The first thing I would do is get to a doctor and get some bloodwork done. A lot of time hair loss can be from a hormonal imbalance. My mom has severe loss as well and I think I inherited PCOS from her. The resulting hormone imbalance is enough to make my hair jump ship.

If an imbalance is found then you can fight it from the inside as well.

If you are noticing a change in density and a widening of your part then I don't think you're jumping the gun on starting rogaine. I'd maybe make sure it isn't something like your thyroid that is to blame (thyroid issues can run in families as well) or your iron levels. If it's something that's correctable by meds and isn't aga then you might want to hold off and see if you can correct it that way first.

There are a ton of personal accounts on here that would be a good idea to read through. There's sometimes an initial shed with this treatment that you need to ride out. It's usually a good sign, new hairs kicking out the old. But it does tend to freak people out and a few quit before they have a chance to see results.

I agree with Kim...go to a doctor and get a full workup done on iron/ferritin, thyroid (to include antibodies), and sex hormones along with checking for any nutritional deficiencies.

Take a good multi which includes iron, biotin, and iodine. Eat right...don't mess around (watch for gluten sensitivity).

If all seems okay, I'd suspect AGA and start googling DHT blockers. Maybe get a prescription for Nizoral 2%. ...or try Alpecin C1 shampoo. I personally believe in ell-cranell which might be hard to get your hands on.

Nutritional/herbal etc. DHT blockers exist as well. Research those. With AGA, DHT is shrinking and ultimate will kill off your hair follicles....you have to attack that, inside and out, preferably.

Rogaine: although I use it, for me, it's a last resort. Don't wait too long to use it....but try some other avenues first (folligen, NU Hair...). That's just me...even at 40, I feel I'll be using this stuff for way much longer than I want to....and you are only 19.

Good luck!