There are so many medicines these days - the people commenting have really no idea. Biologics and JAK inhibitors work extremely well. Despite the concern for "infections" the number of infections is akin to the number of women who take the pill who get blood clots - a really small number. Plus, if your immune system is attacking your hair, there are likely other problems internally that you don't know about. One person I know took Xeljanz for her hair and it cleared up her asthma as well.

Hair loss is a lot like diabetes and probably linked to glucose as well. His hair might be extremely sensitive to glucose spikes for instance. He could get a glucose monitor and wear it for a couple of months and see what his glucose levels look like. Anyone who cares about their health should do that, in fact.

Anonymous wrote:Hair loss is not like diabetes

Do you really think there would be any bald men in Hollywood if indeed there were a hair loss solution?

It's only in recent years. You will see no more bald men in Hollywood in 5 years.

Get that bald headed monkey to a derm

Ugh
Have him seen by a Dermatologist

Anonymous wrote:My son started balding quickly at 17. He started topical minoxidil but didn't like the gumminess of his hair, so switched to the pills. It has stopped the hair loss, and with a good haircut, you can't tell. His goal is to keep his hair in college then let it go after that.

So he's still in HS or a frosh in college? You sweet summer child, he hasn't begun to lose his hair yet. Give it about 5 years and then he will start to notice the real hair loss. Nothing will stop it.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OMG take him to the dermatologist immediately. Get him on Finasteride and Minoxidil (oral) immediately. What kind of horrible parent are you that you don't know to do this?

You're nuts. Giving a kid drugs for genetic male pattern balding will cause worse issues. Derm visit yes, drugs no.

Truth. Finasteride really destroys a person's hormones and body, and giving it to somene under 25 is even worse. Makes them into a twinky incel type.

12 yr old with receding hair line? That’s awfully young. Yes I knew guys in HS who had started balding (I dated one) but they were 17. Twelve seems awfully young.

When is his next well child appt? I’d mention it to the pediatrician - out of his ear shot! - and see if any blood work is in order.

Hit the gym, swim, and run. Lots of bald fit guys. Part of the aesthetic.

My son started balding quickly at 17. He started topical minoxidil but didn't like the gumminess of his hair, so switched to the pills. It has stopped the hair loss, and with a good haircut, you can't tell. His goal is to keep his hair in college then let it go after that.

Anonymous wrote:Minoxidil won’t work for this.

DH started going bald in HS and shaved us head really early on. It didn’t seem to affect his dating since I met him with a shaved head in college and we’ve been married forever.

That doesn’t help your kid, but you can’t fight this with drugs and I would even skip the dermatologist. Don’t bring it up to him. When he becomes self conscious, encourage a shaved head and to embrace the style.

My HS son is seeming so far to inherit the extreme early grey from my side.

Agree. It is highly unlikely anything medical given the family history and it looking like classic male pattern baldness. Just let it be. He can look into hair transplants when he is older if it bothers him. Minoxidil isn’t going to keep hair loss of bad for several decades-nor would it use it on a 12 yr old.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hair loss is not like diabetes

Do you really think there would be any bald men in Hollywood if indeed there were a hair loss solution?

This.
30-35% of men are bald by their 30s. Probably none of them would be if there was an actual solution.
Only transplants work, and that only works if there is enough donor hair, such as with male pattern rather than crown balding or horseshoe balding.

Even transplants are temporary

Minoxidil won’t work for this.

DH started going bald in HS and shaved us head really early on. It didn’t seem to affect his dating since I met him with a shaved head in college and we’ve been married forever.

That doesn’t help your kid, but you can’t fight this with drugs and I would even skip the dermatologist. Don’t bring it up to him. When he becomes self conscious, encourage a shaved head and to embrace the style.

My HS son is seeming so far to inherit the extreme early grey from my side.

Anonymous wrote:Hair loss was one of the things I noticed before my kid was diagnosed with T1D. She lost a lot of hair at first, actually, from the stress her body was under.

Started growing back after a few months of getting insulin.

It’s different with females.

Anonymous wrote:OMG take him to the dermatologist immediately. Get him on Finasteride and Minoxidil (oral) immediately. What kind of horrible parent are you that you don't know to do this?

You're nuts. Giving a kid drugs for genetic male pattern balding will cause worse issues. Derm visit yes, drugs no.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hair loss is not like diabetes

Do you really think there would be any bald men in Hollywood if indeed there were a hair loss solution?

This.
30-35% of men are bald by their 30s. Probably none of them would be if there was an actual solution.
Only transplants work, and that only works if there is enough donor hair, such as with male pattern rather than crown balding or horseshoe balding.

This is…. not true. Both minoxidil and finasteride are effective. Why men don’t all use it, I have no idea. But they have FDA approvals for hair loss for a reason.

Side effects.

Can happen but are not common.