Virtual consultations are available throughout the week. Schedule today!
Are you a man who is interested in a Hair Transplant Ask us how we can help today.

Balding in Your 20s: What You Need to Know

Balding in Your 20s: What You Need to Know

Though most of us think of balding as something that strikes in middle age, the truth is that male pattern hair loss often starts early and develops slowly. The good news is that if you’ve noticed thinning hair or balding and are in your 20s, treatments are available that can slow or stop the process.

At Honest Hair Restoration in Bradenton and Tampa, Florida, our board-certified physician Martin Maag, MD, offers a variety of effective hair restoration options. Our team uses nonsurgical and surgical therapies to restore your hair and prevent future hair loss as you age. 

As a medical doctor, Dr. Maag reviews your overall health and orders lab work and other tests to screen for underlying medical problems that might contribute to your hair loss. Keep reading to learn what you need to know about balding in your 20s and the therapies available to help. 

Why am I losing hair in my 20s?

As a man in your 20s, you might feel like you’re too young to start losing your hair. But the truth is that hair loss can begin as early as your teen years and continue throughout your life. In fact, up to 80% of men experience hair loss at some point in their life.

People start to lose their hair early for different reasons, including taking certain medications, undergoing some medical treatments, like radiation, or having nutritional deficiencies. But for most men, hair loss is caused by a combination of hormonal and genetic factors.

This condition, called male pattern baldness, or androgenic alopecia, can affect both men and women, though more men than women. The condition triggers hair loss that can start as early as the mid-teens for about 20-25% of men with the condition.

Researchers have found that when your androgen hormones, like testosterone and DHT, are out of balance, your hair starts to thin and fall out. Other factors can increase your hair loss, including:

There’s no cure for male pattern baldness, but different treatments can help slow and stop hair loss—especially when started early.

What therapies can help with early-onset balding?

Before recommending a specific treatment protocol, you meet with Dr. Maag for a personalized hair loss consultation. At this appointment, your physician reviews your medical history, family history related to hair loss, and examines your scalp. 

With this information in hand, Dr. Maag creates personalized hair restoration recommendations based on your unique hair loss and any coexisting conditions you may have. Effective therapies may include:

Custom-blended medications

For some patients in their 20s, Dr. Maag may suggest using custom-blended, prescription and prescription-strength medications. These treatments can be oral or topical, and depending on the blend, they can trigger hair regrowth, promote hair retention, or slow hair loss in about three to six months.

Regenerative medicine

One of our favorite treatments for men in their 20s struggling with hair loss is a type of regenerative medicine called platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy. This all-natural treatment takes the platelets from your blood, which contain growth factors.

Dr. Maag injects the platelets into areas with thinning hair to stimulate your body’s natural cell production and increase hair growth by stimulating the hair follicles. After your PRP session, your scalp begins to grow new hair.

Low-level laser therapy (LLLT)

FDA-approved low-level laser therapy (LLLT) offers another nonsurgical way to stop hair loss. This therapy uses near-infrared energy to stimulate blood flow to your scalp, promoting cellular regeneration to boost hair growth—especially when combined with other hair loss treatments, like medications.

Hair transplantation

If your hair loss is advanced and you want a permanent solution, Dr. Maag may recommend a hair transplant. At Honest Hair Restoration, we add thickness in thinning areas using advanced NeoGraft® technology. 

We take donor follicles from scalp regions with strong hair growth and remove individual hair grafts for transplantation using follicular unit extraction (FUE) instead of a large strip of your scalp, so you won’t have a big scar. 

To promote the best hair growth possible, Dr. Maag may combine your hair transplant with PRP injections. This stimulates hair growth in the transplant area, so you have the fullest head of hair possible. 

You don’t have to go bald in your 20s. Learn how the medical management at Honest Hair Restoration can help you keep a fuller head of hair by scheduling a consultation online or over the phone at a Florida office nearest you. 

You Might Also Enjoy...

Do Prescription Hair Loss Medications Really Work?

If you’re struggling with hair loss, you’re probably wondering if a prescription hair loss medicine can restore your hair. Keep reading to learn more about these medications and whether they really work.

3 Nonsurgical Treatments for Hair Loss

If you’re experiencing hair loss, finding a treatment that restores your hair and gives you natural-looking results—without surgery—is possible! Learn about our three favorite nonsurgical hair loss therapies and which might be right for you.

Why Radiation Can Cause Hair Loss

A cancer diagnosis is stressful—and worrying about hair loss from radiation therapy only adds to your trauma. The good news? Not all radiation triggers hair loss. Keep reading to learn what you need to know and how we can help.

Can Anything Be Done to Slow Down the Balding Process?

Hair loss and balding affects at least 80 million Americans. If you’re frustrated by seeing more skin than hair on your scalp, take a moment to learn if anything can be done to slow or reverse hair loss and how we can help.

I'm Embarrassed About My Thinning Hair

When your appearance changes because of hair loss, it’s natural to feel embarrassed. Take a moment to learn how thinning hair affects your emotional wellbeing and the ways we can restore your confidence.

Is Your Poor Diet to Blame for Your Hair Loss?

Many people lose hair as they age because of genetics. But other factors, including the foods you do (or don’t!) eat can also cause your hair to thin or fall out. Learn if diet is at the root of your hair loss.