If your parents welcomed you into the world between 1981 and 1996, you belong to the population segment known as Millennials. However, your hairline might look like it belonged to an earlier generation. Both anecdotal evidence and some research suggest that people have started losing their hair at a younger age than before. Let’s examine the hair loss problem among Millennials, from possible causes and perceptions to how Millennials cope with the challenge.

Why Are Younger Adults Losing Their Hair?

Alopecia, or hair loss, can strike people at many stages of life, even though society traditionally associates baldness with advancing age. According to a Chinese study, 60 percent of participants in their 20s complained of significant hair loss and receding hairlines. American dermatologists and hairstylists have also reported increasing complaints about hair loss from their younger customers.

Doctors and scientists have suggested a few different reasons for this new development. Millennial hair loss causes or contributing factors may include:

Stress — Millennials face enormous pressure during this career-driven, family-driven life stage, especially during these tumultuous times. Studies on mice have shown that stress can alter the timing of hair growth and shedding, leading to accelerated or premature hair loss. 

Diet — Millennials are more likely to practice vegan or vegetarian diets than their predecessors. This dietary choice may deprive them of iron, a vital nutrient for healthy and normal hair growth. If you adhere to a strict non-meat diet, you may also get too little vitamin D, protein, or zinc to maintain a healthy head of hair.

Pregnancy — Millennial women of childbearing age may experience temporary hair loss due to postnatal hormonal changes. Up to 50 percent of pregnant women suffer from telogen effluvium in the months following delivery. During pregnancy, hair spends more time than usual in its resting phase, or telogen, which puts the brakes on new hair growth. The results include excessive hair shedding without new hair standing by to fill the gaps.

How Millennials Respond to Hair Loss

As upsetting as the facts might seem for Millennials, these individuals also show some valuable strengths for dealing with hair loss challenges. For instance, your generation tends to pay closer attention to the hairstyles of current celebrities as a benchmark for your hair health. You may therefore notice the first signs of hair loss earlier than someone of a previous generation. The earlier you recognize the problem, the more effectively you can combat it.

Millennials tend to take charge and tackle problems instead of suffering in silence. Once you know that you suffer from hair loss, you will most likely seek medical evaluation, discuss treatment options, and work toward retaining your remaining hair or growing new hair. You can then try medications, laser light therapy, hair replacement surgery, and other promising solutions. 

Are you ready to apply your perceptiveness, determination, and problem-solving skills to your battle against alopecia? Contact New-U today to learn more about your many options in this age-old battle.

Photo Credit: https://pixabay.com/photos/hair-man-hair-loss-head-248049/