thinning hair

I am a 24 year old male who has been experiencing thinning hair in the front and a little of the top of my hair for almost a year now.  Hasn't really gotten too much worse over the last year. I have been under alot of stress since i graduated college a year ago.  I have excessive under arm sweating, anxiety, facial flushing, and occasional small amounts of face acne. All of these symptoms have been ongoing since about last year. Can my hair thinning be caused by all this stress and these other symptoms be apart of some kind of problem?  Thank you in advance.

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

The most likely cause of hair loss in a 24 year old man is heredity ("male pattern hair loss" is the usual term.  Stress, sweating, flushing, and acne more than likely have nothing to do with it.

My advice to you is to consult a dermatologist about all these problems.  Your options for hair treatment include minoxidil (over-the-counter) and Propecia, which does a nice job of holding onto the hair you have, but you need to take a pill indefinitely and insurance doesn't pay for it.  Worth exploting, in any case.

The other problems are easily dealt with, and worth a visit.

Best.

Dr. Rockoff

[Ding Dong]

I'am a 58 year old lady and I'am loseing my hair.  Could this be because I'am on a bata blocker for my heart.