If your father or grandfather was bald, chances are when you’re hitting your mid-to-late 20s, you’re starting to keep an eye out for changes in your hair’s thickness, as well as changes in your hairline.

While this is a good practice, it's not always a solid indicator of your hair's health. Some guys have full heads of hair into their 40s, 50s, and beyond, while others experience balding in their 20s. The truth is, there are a number of factors that contribute to premature male pattern baldness. The most obvious factor is genetics. But your lifestyle, stress levels, and health can all affect your hair’s growth.

Hair loss impacts men of all ages, but it is most common to experience between the ages of 30 and 60. The average age for men to begin experiencing hair loss is around 35. If you're also starting to notice a slight thinning in your 20s, here are some signs to look out for.

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Signs of Balding in Men

1. Hair Loss in the Shower

One of the easiest ways to identify early signs of male pattern balding is to watch your hair as you wash it. If you notice your hair getting thinner, you may not have much more time to reverse the effects of balding. While you can’t completely stop the loss of hair, you can slow it down significantly with preventative treatments below.

Hair thinning is caused by a decline in hair follicle production. The follicle’s ability to produce hair is dependent on the surrounding area. When the surrounding area is weakened, the hair follicle itself begins to shrink and decline. When your follicles start to shrink, it makes it more difficult to grow hair. Hair loss may also be caused by a combination of genetics, health, and lifestyle factors.

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2.  A receding hairline

Another sign that you’re experiencing early male pattern baldness is a receding hairline. If you’re experiencing hair loss in your 20s, your hairline may start to recede or shrink. The first sign of this is usually a widening of the forehead. The same factors that affect hair loss in your 20s can also contribute to a receding hairline.

A receding hairline is often the first sign of hair loss in men. The problem for many men is that their receding hairline is often the only sign. While the receding hairline can be a difficult to cope with, especially when you’re in your 20s, it isn’t always the end of the line for your hair.

It's believed that genetics account for 80% of the reason why men experience hair loss. While you can’t change your genetics, you can change your environment, stress levels, and lifestyle habits to improve your chances of thick, healthy hair.

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3. Patchy or Round Bald Spots

As the surrounding area continues to weaken, the hair follicle begins to shrink. In some cases, the follicle shrinks to the point that the hair begins to fall out, and the follicle eventually stops growing hair completely. If you notice patchy bald spots or round bald spots, this may be a sign that your hair follicles are shrinking.

The hair follicles don’t necessarily shrink uniformly. In some cases, a section of hair follicles may shrink and cause hair loss, but nearby hair follicles remain unaffected and continue to produce hair. This is why some people believe that hair thinning is caused by a lack of testosterone. In reality, the testosterone levels in your body have a minimal impact on hair production. The truth is that testosterone has a minimal impact on hair production.

Low testosterone levels can cause you to feel more anxious and depressed than usual, but it doesn’t have any impact on hair. Testosterone is a sex hormone, not a hair growth hormone.

In the past, hair loss treatments focused heavily on addressing testosterone levels. Today’s treatments are much more effective and address underlying issues that cause hair loss.

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4. Slow Hair Growth

If you notice that your hair is growing much slower than usual, this is a sign that your hair follicle is shrinking. Hair growth is dependent on the health of your hair follicles. When your hair follicles are healthy, hair grows at a healthy rate.

When the hair follicle is shrinking, it makes it harder to grow hair. The higher the rate of shrinking, the slower the hair will grow. Eventually, the hair follicle will shrink so much that it stops producing hair entirely.

Hair follicles are nourished by the body through a number of nutrients. The nutrients necessary to produce hair include protein, zinc, iron, and B vitamins. If you notice that your hair is growing slowly, it may be because your body isn’t getting enough of these nutrients.

You can fix this problem by making certain dietary and lifestyle changes. Eat more foods that are rich in protein, such as poultry, fish, and eggs. Eat a lot of leafy green vegetables and iron-rich foods, such as lentils, and beans. Be careful with red meats, as they tend to be over processed and clog arteries.

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6. Longer Telogen Phase

The telogen phase of the hair growth cycle is the resting phase of hair follicles. When hair follicles are in the resting phase, they are not producing hair. During the telogen phase, the hair follicle begins to shrink. Eventually, the hair follicle will disappear entirely. For some people, the telogen phase of the hair growth cycle can last longer than usual.

A Longer telogen phase is caused by an increase in DHT. DHT is a primary cause of hair loss in men. The more DHT in your body, the higher your risk of losing hair. When DHT is more prevalent in your body, it can cause hair to grow in the telogen phase.

If you notice that your hair is growing in the telogen phase, it can be an early warning sign that you’re losing hair. If your hair is growing in the telogen phase, you should work with a dermatologist or hair loss specialist to help stop your hair loss.

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What Could Cause Hair Loss in your 20s?

Many men begin losing their hair in their mid-to-late 20s. Unfortunately, it's typically just caused by genetics. However, there are some things that may exasperate and make hair loss occur at a faster than genetically expected rate.

1. Stress

Stress is a major health problem for many people in today's society. Excessive stress can lead to an array of health problems, including accelerated hair loss.

In the body, stress causes the adrenal glands to secrete a hormone called cortisol. This hormone stimulates hair loss. Cortisol also weakens the immune system and weakens the body overall. Cortisol also increases the body's production of the hormone DHT.

Stress can also cause high blood pressure, which is another factor in hair loss.

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2. DHT

Dihydrotestosterone is a hormone that is linked to hair loss. DHT is the byproduct of testosterone, and it is more potent in its effects than testosterone. Coupled with the effects of stress and high blood pressure, a hormonal imbalance can be a major contributor to hair loss.

Testosterone levels do not directly affect hair loss, and too much or too little testosterone is not what is causing your hair loss. Instead, it's the production of DHT that is causing your hair loss.

DHT is a hormone that is partially responsible for the male characteristics of your body. It is linked to the development of male sexual characteristics, such as the growth of facial hair. DHT is also the primary cause of male pattern baldness.

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3. Poor Diet

A poor diet is a major cause of hair loss. Eating a healthy diet is essential to good hair health and hair growth. A healthy diet will ensure that your body is getting all of the nutrients it needs in order to be healthy and grow hair.

Many people in today's society do not eat a healthy diet. They eat junk food, drink soda, and eat too much fast food. They may also eat too much salt, which leads to high blood pressure, which can cause hair loss.

A healthy diet is one that is rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and protein. It is also rich in Omega-3 fatty acids. These fats are found in fish and can help reduce inflammation and other symptoms that can cause hair loss.

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Hair Loss Treatments for Men in their 20s and 30s

For some men, hair loss can start as early as their 20s. This typically means a thinning of hair on top of the head. The hair loss might not be noticeable to others, or it might be something you see every time you look in the mirror. If you've noticed that your hair is so thin that you can see your scalp, it's time to talk to a doctor.

Phoenix is a telehealth platform exclusively for men, and is the first platform in Canada that specializes in men's health issues. You can get a prescription for popular hair loss treatment Finasteride without turning on your camera, as Phoenix utilizes text-based chat technology. Consultations can be made by a registered doctor from the comfort of your living room.

DHT – the key culprit in male pattern baldness, can be stopped by Finasteride, which is a drug that works by inhibiting an enzyme responsible for the conversion of testosterone to DHT. This drug is not available over the counter. However, the Phoenix telehealth platform offers prescriptions for Finasteride.

Finasteride can be taken in conjunction with minoxidil, which is a topical cream designed to promote hair growth, as well as reduce shedding. The combination of these two drugs has been shown to be more effective than using either alone.

DHT blockers, such as finasteride, are important for anyone who is starting to experience hair loss. While it might not be a cure for hair loss, it can slow the process, which can be especially helpful for those who are young.

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Conclusion

There are several hair loss treatments available, some of which are very effective, such as Finasteride. However, not everyone will be a candidate for every treatment. It's important to talk to a doctor, who can help you decide which hair loss treatment will work best for you.

The best way to prevent hair loss and to keep your hair healthy is to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Make sure to eat well, exercise regularly, and get enough sleep. Smoking, stress, and a poor diet can all contribute to hair loss.

Make an appointment today to get a prescription for Finasteride, so you can rise again.