HomeAnswersDermatologyhair fallI am a 17-year-old facing severe hair loss, thinning, and dandruff. Please help.

How to overcome severe hair loss, thinning, and dandruff in a 17-year-old person?

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The following is an actual conversation between an iCliniq user and a doctor that has been reviewed and published as a Premium Q&A.

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Published At October 27, 2022
Reviewed AtNovember 9, 2022

Patient's Query

Hi doctor,

I am 17-year-old, and I have been facing too much hair fall and thinning for more than a year, and I am facing dandruff also. Please help.

Hi,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I understand your concern.

As per the history provided, sudden hair fall and hair thinning, also called male pattern hair loss (MPHL), along with seborrheic dermatitis or dandruff, is common, and dandruff is considered the main and most common cause of hair fall, which may be reversible with the management of dandruff. Sudden excess hair loss may also accompany the normal hair cycle, where every individual goes through a hair cycle pattern where one's hair is in the stages of anagen, catagen, and telogen phases, where hair grows, falls off, and remain dormant. Most individuals experience sudden excess hair loss for the months when the hair cycle is in the stages of catagen and telogen phases. Hair loss in 100-150 hair strands per day is usually normal.

MPHL, as mentioned earlier, develops due to genetic reasons, mainly from the maternal end, due to other causes, including testosterone or hormonal fluctuations, climate factors, dandruff issues, wearing helmets or caps and using hair products, and undergoing hair treatment procedures like smoothening or straightening and coloring which weakens the hair roots. In addition, as you have already mentioned, dandruff or seborrheic dermatitis is also the main factor leading to hair loss on the scalp.

I suggest,

1. KZ plus lotion (Ketoconazole and Zinc pyrithione) twice a week, diluted with water in a ratio of 1:3, which means around one teaspoon of the lotion to be mixed two times with water and apply on the scalp during the shower, massage with moderate pressure using the tip of fingers for a minute, wait for five minutes and wash off. Repeat this twice weekly (which is every three days) for eight weeks or till dandruff reduces. Dandruff or seborrheic dermatitis appears due to multiple reasons, including genetic, hormonal, climatic, and fungal infection; therefore, it may appear on and off for most individuals repeatedly, and each time they appear, you may use the same lotion.

2. PRP (platelet-rich plasma) advanced or PRF (platelet-rich fibrin) procedures with mesotherapy may be done monthly for at least six months. In this treatment, the platelet, including the growth factor segment of your blood, is extracted through a syringe and injected superficially on the scalp where the hair loss is more which would help stimulate hair growth. When combined with PRP, mesotherapy may be done every 15 days, where a serum containing biotin and other vitamins is injected similarly. This procedure is done at a professional hair clinic; therefore, I suggest you consult a dermatologist in person to know more about the procedure and to undergo the procedure as well. This procedure is only advised in case you are 18 years old.

3. Tablet Follihair (vitamins and minerals) once daily after food for two months is to be taken to help with hair growth and to prevent further hair loss.

4. Treating dandruff itself will reduce hair loss to an extent. Therefore, using the lotion and maintaining hydration by consuming at least 12 glasses of water daily may be ensured faster relief from dandruff.

5. Blood tests, including CBC (complete blood count), serum ferritin, serum iron, vitamin B12, vitamin D3, and DHEAS (dehydroepiandrosterone), may also be done to rule out vitamin deficiencies or hormonal imbalances, if any.

Kindly revert to the blood report for further management, depending on the report's parameters. Make sure to give the blood samples for testing before starting the tablet Follihair, as it may interfere with the actual result by giving wrong values.

Kindly follow up in case of any further queries.

I hope you find it helpful.

Kind regards.

Same symptoms don't mean you have the same problem. Consult a doctor now!

Dr. Sandhya Narayanan Kutty
Dr. Sandhya Narayanan Kutty

Venereology

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