Assessment and Treatment of Adolescent Hair Loss

This review highlights the significant psychosocial impact of hair loss in adolescents and emphasizes the need for adolescent-specific diagnostic and treatment approaches. Recent advances include the use of trichoscopy and ultraviolet-enhanced follicular dermoscopy to improve diagnostic accuracy and reduce invasive testing. Androgenetic alopecia is associated with obesity and genetic factors, with topical minoxidil as the first-line treatment and low-dose oral minoxidil in some cases. Alopecia areata now considers factors like chronicity and psychosocial burden, with systemic JAK inhibitors showing promise for sustained regrowth. Psychogenic hair loss often coexists with mental health disorders. The review stresses the importance of early, etiology-driven assessment and multidisciplinary care, while noting gaps in preventive strategies and long-term outcomes, which are priorities for future research.