How can early stages of male pattern baldness be stopped? 

Question from Mike Burrow.

I am 23 years old and I have noticed my hair getting thinner over the past year or so. I am worried about going bald, especially at such a young age. I have looked into treatments like finasteride and minoxidil, but I do not want to use medical drugs at such a young age. I don't want the risk of negative side-effects.

Is there any treatment for hair loss that is safe to take, as well as effective?

Answer:

What you are gong through is very normal, and you are most certainly not alone in this. Firstly, before you even think about treatments, you'll need to establish what type of hair loss you are suffering from. 

Male pattern baldness is the most probable cause, but it could be something else. Stress can cause thinning hair, and so can seasonal hair loss (a phase whereby the hair sheds excessively during a certain season of the year). 

It could be worth speaking to your doctor or to a trichologist about your hair loss, and they will be able to diagnose its exact type. Once you know for sure what is causing your hair to fall out, you'll then be in a better position to address the issue with the correct treatment(s). 

If it does happen to be male pattern baldness, then there are a few good non-medical treatment options that you could consider. Remember, there isn't a cure for any type of hair loss, but there are some treatments that can help slow down, and even stop the rate of hair fall. 

Firstly, get yourself a good multivitamin hair supplement. Some well known ones are Viviscal (for men) and HR23+.  Multivitamin hair supplements help nourish your strands, and tackle the issues of hair loss at the root cause. What's more, they are safe, and free from negative side-effects. 

If you are looking for a safe alternative to minoxidil, then try keratinocyte growth factor (KGF) serum. This potent blend is an important endogenous mediator of hair follicle growth, development, and differentiation. It can help counter excessive hair fall, and stimulate hair growth. 

These two treatments would be suitable for most hair loss types, and they can offer you a solution to your hair loss. At this stage, being as young as you are, your priority should be to slow down and stop the hair fall. If you can stabilise your hair, then you stand a good chance of having a good head of hair when you head into your 30s, and beyond.