Hairy Situations: Too Much, Too Little & Shaving / Question
Published: August 15, 2001
Dear TeenHealthFX,
Hello, I'm a 16-year-old male from Sydney, Australia and really love this site. I'm involved in Rugby League, which involves heaps of tough training. I'm aiming to play first grade one day. But I'll just get to the point; I'm losing hair. I hear it is from loss of semen, physical stress etc. I had long hair about 6 months ago but it started falling out when I came back from overseas. Two months later I cut it very short and now I notice I'm getting bald. To be honest I wear my hat a lot and I used to put heaps of gel on everyday. What should I do with my hair and what kind of cream should I put in it. I've used Brylcreame; it keeps the hair wet. Is that okay? Is there some type of gel that can keep my hair from falling out and at the same time style my hair? Please help me! I also have pimples in my head, is this normal? I have visited specialists and have gotten rid of the ones on my back but they keep coming on my head, luckily not my face.
Signed: Losing Hair In Australia
Dear Losing Hair In Australia,
We are glad that you enjoy our site and would be happy to try and help you. It is normal to lose between 50-100 strands of a hair a day. If your hair is falling out in clumps or by the handful then you need to see a doctor soon to determine if there is some underlying medical condition.
Common baldness accounts for 99 percent of hair loss in both men and women. Male-pattern baldness usually begins with thinning at your hairline followed by moderate to extensive hair loss on the crown of your head. Heredity, hormones (high testosterone levels) and age all play important roles in common baldness. The best way to know if baldness is in your future is to look at the older generations in your family.
Many factors can contribute to temporary hair loss, including stress, high fever, excessive hair styling treatments, inadequate protein or iron in the diet, fungal infection, or an under active or over active thyroid. Using gel in your hair would not be considered an excessive hairstyle; this refers to styles that would pull at the hair's root such as braids or tight ponytail. Hair treatments that use harsh chemicals, if not done properly, can damage hair and cause it to break. This would make it seem like your hair is falling out but it grows back quickly since the roots are still intact. Excessive brushing can also cause the hair to break and produce the same effect. There are no gels that effectively stop hair loss. A cream rinse after shampooing can make it easier to comb and make it more manageable. When hair is wet it is more fragile. Avoid rigorous rubbing with a towel and rough combing or brushing. Wide toothcombs and brushes with smooth tips work best.
You did not say whether you were experiencing a lot of stress but since it can lead to hair loss it is something you need to consider. Your goal of playing first grade Rugby sounds admirable. Remember that playing a sport should be fun. To play at a high level takes hard work and commitment but if you are not enjoying it, maybe this could be a source of your stress. If you are experiencing a lot of stress maybe you should talk to someone, maybe a counselor at school would be able to help.
There is no connection to semen loss and hair loss. These myths are generally presented as taboos regarding masturbation. There is also no connection to wearing a hat and baldness as long as the hat is not putting stress on the hair. There is something to consider here though. One of the main ways to pass a fungal infection of the scalp is by wearing someone else's hat. You also mentioned that you had bumps on your head that were not clearing up. Loss of hair is a key symptom to a scalp fungal infection. This may be an outside chance but it is worth having a doctor take a look.
Hair loss in athletes who are into intense conditioning is often related to the use of anabolic steroids. Anabolic steroids are similar to testosterone, which is the main contributor to hair loss. However, in some rare cases, excessive exercise can raise testosterone levels and cause hair loss.
The other bumps sound like they may be acne. Click on TeenHealthFX's response to No More Zits for some helpful hints.
TeenHealthFX threw out a lot of information at you. The reason for that is that we believe it would be in your best interest for you to consult with a doctor and a dermatologist, which is a doctor who deals with hair loss and skin conditions. With this new information, explain your concerns and see what he/she recommends.
If there is no medical condition causing your hair loss, you may want to speak with your doctor about topical Minoxidil (called Rogaine in the US). This has been effective in causing new hair growth.
Signed: TeenHealthFX
Compared with other age groups, teens have the lowest rate of seat belt use, and male high school students are more likely than female students to rarely or never wear seat belts.
