Is it Normal for a Boy to Lose Hair During Puberty?

Male Balding

While hair loss is generally associated with your parents or grandparents, it is normal for boys to occasionally lose some hair during puberty.

Receding Hairline

According to Jason Medina of Medical Health Center, boys going through puberty may experience the first indication of a receding hairline--a sign of hereditary baldness.

Patterned Hair Loss

According to Medical News Today, patterned hair loss may rear its head during puberty when blood levels of androgen drop, though it's more common for this to happen in a male during his 20s or 30s or older.

Growth vs. Loss

You will probably grow more hair than you lose during puberty. While both hair growth and loss are normal, you'll start growing hair in new areas, as well as thicker hair on top of your head. When this happens, hair loss also occurs to make room for the new hair.

Warning

Though rare, drastic hair loss during puberty could be a sign of Alopecia, a condition that causes people to lose all of their hair in one or all spots. Its first symptoms generally appear during late adolescence.

Expert Insight

According to Diya Mutasim, via Health News, "The same hormones that give boys facial hair during puberty will cause them to lose hair on their heads as men."

References

• Medical Health Center: Receding Hairlines in Teens
• Medical News Today: Hair Loss Causes and Treatment
• NIAMS: Alopecia Areata
• Health News: UC HEALTH LINE: Pattern Hair Loss Sometimes Treatable--But Also Inevitable