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Why are millennials losing their hair? It's a question currently challenging the medical profession. While it's normal to lose a certain amount of hair as we age, research has uncovered an alarming trend that's seen men and women as young as 18 experience premature hair loss. So, why are people in their late teens and twenties and thirties going bald?
Click through and find out the root causes to this worrying problem.
It's a fact: more and more millennials are dealing with hair loss. Buy why is this?
People in their twenties and thirties appear to be losing their hair a lot sooner. And there's no one reason why this is so.
But is hair loss as young as 25 normal? Apparently so. Millennials seem to be going bald more and more frequently in recent years, and at younger ages.
Results of a survey published in China Newsweek found that Chinese people in their twenties are going bald sooner than any generation before them.
A self-reported survey of 4,000 students at Tsinghua University in Beijing concluded that 60% of the young study participants reported they were losing significant amounts of hair.
Asian men, and East Asians in particular, have historically experienced the lowest incidence of hair loss in the world, reports CNN.
And while earlier studies have suggested almost all Caucasian men will eventually face some degree of male pattern baldness (and around half can expect to lose their hair by middle age), even those once previously thought to be immune from premature baldness, including Asians, are now experiencing a degree of hair loss at a younger age. So, what's going on?
In order to understand hair loss, we need to take a look at the root causes.
Hair loss can come about due to any number of reasons. These include hormonal changes, autoimmune diseases, thyroid disorders, and stress.
Stress is a big factor in hair loss. While it's normal to shed between 50 and 100 hairs every day, stress-induced hair loss can significantly multiply this rate.
Research indicates a connection between age and stress, according to data published by the American Psychological Association (APA).
Those millennials taking part in the APA study reported feeling isolated or lonely due to stress even while maintaining an average of five "close friends" with whom they can relax, discuss personal matters, or call on for help.
Furthermore, notes Healthline, APA researchers discovered that members of generation X and millennials reported higher levels of stress than older generations. They also seem to have more difficulty successfully coping.
Asia aside, an increasing number of millennials in the United States say they're experiencing hair loss.
An article published in the New York Post highlighted the connection between stress and millennial hair loss.
"Men and women as young as 18... are freaking out about going bald," it read. "[And] one big reason for the follicle freakout? High stress."
Reiterating the APA's view, the New York Post noted that "millennials are more stressed out than any other generation."
It pointed a finger towards a condition called telogen effluvium, which happens when "significant stress pushes large numbers of hair follicles into a resting phase." Soon thereafter, hair starts to fall out.
Another condition highlighted by the report is one called alopecia areata, in which your immune system attacks the hair follicles, which can be exacerbated by stress.
There's also a disorder called trichotillomania, adds the New York Post, in which stressed-out people feel an irresistible urge to pull their hair out.
Millennials' hair maintenance may also be contributing to hair loss. Excessive bleaching and dying can seriously damage hair. The way hair is worn and styled could also play a role.
A recent study from Johns Hopkins University in the United States found that certain hairstyles can lead to "traction alopecia."
Traction alopecia is a medical term used for the gradual loss of hair from damage to the follicles due to prolonged or repeated tension on the roots.
Compounding these issues is the focus placed on appearance through social media and so-called influencers. As a result, millennials are more sensitive to hair changes.
Interestingly, research has also linked millennial hair loss with poor diet. Indeed, diet can directly impact the health of your hair.
A poor diet, with a lack of the right nutrients (including vitamins A, C, D and E, zinc, iron, and protein), may slow down hair growth and potentially cause hair loss.
Ironically, the millennial trend of going vegetarian or vegan can accelerate hair loss. This is because an individual may not be getting enough protein and iron (which meat is a great source of), a deficiency that could serve as an additional factor in hair loss.
Treatment for hair loss will ultimately depend on what's causing the problem. Consulting a dermatologist is often the first step to take in identifying hair loss issues.
For reasons already explained, following a healthy diet is also important in combating hair loss. Abstaining from alcohol and tobacco can also help maintain hair.
Importantly, millennials need to manage their stress levels. Modern 21st-century life is challenging, and rebalancing home life and work or study commitments, for example, or bonding with connections you enjoy, can work wonders for a good head of hair.
Sources: (China Newsweek) (CNN) (APA) (Healthline) (New York Post) (Johns Hopkins University) (National Center for Biotechnology Information)
See also: How to establish a hair care routine
Here's why millennials are losing their hair
What are the root causes?
HEALTH Curiosities
Why are millennials losing their hair? It's a question currently challenging the medical profession. While it's normal to lose a certain amount of hair as we age, research has uncovered an alarming trend that's seen men and women as young as 18 experience premature hair loss. So, why are people in their late teens and twenties and thirties going bald?
Click through and find out the root causes to this worrying problem.