Hi, I am an 18 year old, who has noticed that my left temple has receding for about a year, as well as a slight thinning of my crown. I am aware that this is mild balding, but for reference, I have maternal and paternal relatives who have gone bald, but none who started this early.
Therefore, I believe it's obvious that I carry the potential genetics to express androgenetic alopecia, but not at an early age. Therefore, I believe that the cause of the early onset of balding for me was caused by environmental factors. I also do not express characteristics that are indicative of me having high DHT, as I cannot grow any facial hair, my body hair is limited and my voice is not deep.
Though I am aware that genetics play the largest role in determining hair loss, I believe that the role of environmental factors which help to express those genes have been undermined
In my case, I have put this down to two factors which are specific to me which my relatives didn't indulge in.
1) Chronic Caffeine usage since 16
2) Lack of sleep
I first noticed some mild hair loss at 17, 6 months after beginning my chronic caffeine usage.
2 months ago, I stopped using caffeine , as I began to show symptoms of an enlarged prostate. I was drinking 3/4 cups a day for two years .
I was researching about the role which these environmental factors play in androgenetic alopecia, and found out about this study
This found that chronic caffeine usage in rats from puberty increased the androgenic sensitivity in the prostate gland, thus increasing the risk of BPH. Though it did not research the impact on hair follicles, both tissues are controlled by DHT, and therefore through slight extrapolation, I believe that chronic caffeine usage can bring about an earlier onset of androgenetic alopecia, if one has the potential genetics to express it.
It'd be interesting to hear your thoughts
Therefore, I believe it's obvious that I carry the potential genetics to express androgenetic alopecia, but not at an early age. Therefore, I believe that the cause of the early onset of balding for me was caused by environmental factors. I also do not express characteristics that are indicative of me having high DHT, as I cannot grow any facial hair, my body hair is limited and my voice is not deep.
Though I am aware that genetics play the largest role in determining hair loss, I believe that the role of environmental factors which help to express those genes have been undermined
In my case, I have put this down to two factors which are specific to me which my relatives didn't indulge in.
1) Chronic Caffeine usage since 16
2) Lack of sleep
I first noticed some mild hair loss at 17, 6 months after beginning my chronic caffeine usage.
2 months ago, I stopped using caffeine , as I began to show symptoms of an enlarged prostate. I was drinking 3/4 cups a day for two years .
I was researching about the role which these environmental factors play in androgenetic alopecia, and found out about this study
Chronic caffeine intake increases androgenic stimuli, epithelial cell proliferation and hyperplasia in rat ventral prostate
Coffee intake has been associated with a low risk of developing cancer, including prostate cancer, which is one of the most commonly diagnosed cancer in men. However, few studies have evaluated the chronic effects of caffeine, which is the most abundant ...
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
This found that chronic caffeine usage in rats from puberty increased the androgenic sensitivity in the prostate gland, thus increasing the risk of BPH. Though it did not research the impact on hair follicles, both tissues are controlled by DHT, and therefore through slight extrapolation, I believe that chronic caffeine usage can bring about an earlier onset of androgenetic alopecia, if one has the potential genetics to express it.
It'd be interesting to hear your thoughts