What To Do If You're Experiencing Hair Loss In Your 20s

Most people experience hair loss as they age, but noticing thinning in your 20s has to be disconcerting. If this is happening to you, don't despair, as you're not the only one. In fact, trichologist Penny James exclusively tells Glam, "Hair loss in one's 20s is a lot more common than people realize for young women and men. Early onset of hair loss can occur for many reasons and is still being studied, as it is a very complex condition." While there may be an underlying medical reason for alopecia, James shares some other reasons you may be seeing excessive hair loss.

The first thing you should do if you start to notice hair loss in your 20s is take a deep dive into your lifestyle habits. According to James, causes of hair loss can include stress, poor sleeping habits, too much drinking or smoking, an imbalanced diet, and lack of exercise. If one or more of these apply to you, it's time to get healthy. Next, consult a hair loss expert and a doctor. "I always say visit a trichologist like myself, or if you're not feeling well, book an appointment with your health care provider. Ask for a full blood count to be run. The key is to find out WHY you're losing your hair," she tells us. The good news is, there are ways to treat hair loss, and you can take preventative measures as well. Don't wait too long, however, as you'll want to have time on your side to halt even more shedding.

Hair loss doesn't have to be a life sentence if you address it from the inside and out. Expert and owner of Trichology Center Penny James exclusively shares with Glam, "Practice a healthy lifestyle. Avoid toxic environments, eat healthy foods, and take time to walk outside. Drink plenty of water." As for your hair, James recommends the Tricopro Antioxidant Scalp Cream, Viviscal supplements, as well as Oribe's Densifying line. She adds, "Change your hairstyle often. If you are always pulling your hair back, wear it down. If you always blow it out, leave it natural. Take time to wash your hair and scalp, and massage the scalp with the shampoo. Use a wide-tooth comb or a wet brush to untangle your hair. Be kind to your hair; it's a fiber and breaks."

As mentioned previously, make an appointment with your doctor to get some tests done. James tells us that hair loss could be a symptom of hormonal imbalances, so it's important to get the full picture from blood work. There are ways to handle and treat female hair loss, but you will need the help of experts to get to the bottom of it. James insists, "The key to reversing this is to take action as quickly as possible. You're not alone, and you do not need to suffer." Once you figure out the root cause, you can treat your hair loss accordingly, while taking preventative measures as well.