Why hair loss is rising among young adults: Eugenix Hair Sciences surgeon explains causes
Genetics is often the main cause, but stress, poor sleep, diet and pollution can worsen it, says Dr Priyadarshini Das.
Hair loss was once seen as a problem of ageing, but that is changing. Young people in their twenties and thirties are also troubled by hair fall, a receding hairline and thinning at the crown. Career stress, changing lifestyles, sleep habits and heightened awareness of appearance have made early hair loss a worry for many. Dr Priyadarshini Das, senior hair transplant surgeon at Eugenix Hair Sciences, explained the causes in detail.
According to Dr Priyadarshini, premature hair loss is not simply the result of a poor lifestyle. The reasons behind it are often far more complex. In androgenetic or pattern hair loss in particular, a genetic predisposition is considered an important cause. In people who may already carry this tendency, stress, lack of sleep, dietary changes and other modern lifestyle factors can aggravate the problem or bring it on sooner.
She says stress alone cannot explain hair loss. A genetic tendency is often the larger cause, but one's current lifestyle can fuel it. Stress, poor diet, pollution and other environmental factors can cause hair loss or worsen it. If the hair follicles are already genetically weak, the process can speed up.
She says persistent hair fall should not be brushed aside with "it must be stress" or "it is just a phase". It is important to understand the real cause in time and seek the right advice.
The problem appears to be growing among young people, and according to Dr Priyadarshini lifestyle plays an important part. Long working hours, little sleep and constant stress can affect the natural hair growth cycle, and some people may lose more hair as a result. Neglecting diet can also be a major cause. Excessive dieting to lose weight, or getting too little protein, iron and other essential nutrients, can affect healthy hair growth. The effect can be stronger if the body is deficient in these nutrients.
Pollution is the next issue, which Dr Priyadarshini described as a serious and growing challenge for urban India. Constant exposure to airborne pollutants can affect scalp health. It can increase oxidative stress and inflammation, worsening the condition of an already sensitive scalp. However, pollution is not considered a direct or main cause of genetic hair loss. But if the scalp is already fragile, the added burden of pollution can make conditions harder for hair health.
According to Dr Priyadarshini, the real problem is not only hair loss but that early signs go unrecognised. People often ignore the problem until thinning is clearly visible, by which time it is also hard to conceal. The sooner the cause is understood, the easier it can be to take the right step, because temporary hair loss and a gradually progressing condition have different causes and call for different approaches.
She says it is not right to trace the problem among young Indians to a single bad daily habit. Genes may set the background, but stress, diet, lifestyle and environment can also influence the onset, pattern and severity of the condition. Early signals from the body should therefore not be ignored. If symptoms are noticed in time and an expert is consulted, it can help identify the root cause and decide on the right treatment or next steps.
