Underweight, Stressed With Thinning Hair and Dandruff'

Name: Shayne

Question: Hi im a male and am 20 years old. My father is not bald but my mothers father was, I am underweight and do take quite a bit of stress, I have noticed that my hair is thinning, the left side of my head has a little bit thinner hair than my right, my head usually also has dandruff and is dry no matter how much I try shampoos, would this be considered male pattern baldness or is it due to stress or health, and if this is genetic is it possible to reverse it and stop it from happening in my lifetime since I have heard there is no cure?

Answer: Hi, Shayne. We cannot diagnose the cause of your hair loss solely on this information so we would definitely recommend having a consultation with a specialist.

If you are stressed and underweight there may issues at play which are contribute to your thinning hair, either instead of or as well as genetic hair loss. In addition to the emotional stress you mention, if you are severely underweight or have any significant health issues, including nutritional imbalances, which are causing this, this can place a strain on your body, which is classed as a form of physical stress.

When people encounter stress, it can weaken our body's natural defences and - though stress does not in itself cause dandruff - it may occur due to an inability to deal with scalp irritation. Stress also has a drying effect on the body as a whole and may make dandruff worse, so it is certainly worth looking at what is causing any underlying physical and emotional stresses and dealing with them appropriately.

In cases of persistent dandruff a medicated treatment shampoo is often an effective way to deal with this problem - just follow the instructions and if you are only meant to use it a few times a week, it is fine to use a gentle shampoo suitable for daily hair washing on the other days. Avoid haircare products containing harsh chemicals which may strip the hair and leave it feeling dry and potentially brittle.


Stress has many links to hair shedding, from causing temporary hair loss conditions which can affect the entire scalp (Telogen Effluvium and Diffuse Thinning) to accelerating the onset of underlying Male Pattern Baldness (MPB) in genetically-predisposed men, or exacerbating the condition in those where it is already active. This hereditary condition - which can be passed on from both sides of the family - only affects the area along top of the scalp, from hairline to crown inclusive.

Furthermore, it is possible to have a temporary form of stress-related hair loss alongside MPB which is both permanent and progressive. If, upon professional diagnosis, it turns out that you do have Male Pattern Baldness then, although there is no cure, there are clinically-proven men's hair loss treatments available to help you manage this condition.

There are two key MHRA licensed and FDA approved hair loss medications - one topical, one oral - which can be used to assist in the stabilisation of shedding, promotion of hair regrowth and future hair loss prevention. At Belgravia we use various formulations from our in-clinic pharmacies, alongside non-medicinal supplementary booster products, such as the exclusive food supplement Hair Vitalics for Men which contains a range of key vitamins, minerals, amino acids and botanicals including selenium, biotin and zinc for healthy hair growth.

If your condition turns out to be temporary, it may resolve naturally once the underlying trigger has been successfully handled. If not, or if there is a temporary hair loss condition existing simultaneously alongside Male Pattern Hair Loss, a treatment course which can address both concerns can be tailored to your needs.