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BBC<\/p>\nLola MayorBBC News and<\/p>\n
Ben PriceBBC News<\/p>\n
BBC<\/p>\n
Judah Cousin, who is wearing a semi-permanent hair piece, started losing his hair at 16 and says the process is “exhausting”<\/p>\n
A teenager who started losing his hair when he was 16 has described the experience as “completely and utterly exhausting”.<\/p>\n
Judah Cousin, 19, said male pattern baldness caused him to withdraw from family and friends and that his life was “controlled” by the condition.<\/p>\n
“I wouldn’t go out if it was windy, I wouldn’t go swimming, I’d always go to the gym with a hat on… I remember showering three times over to get the hair right and I ended up being late to my prom because of that,” said Mr Cousin.<\/p>\n
Male pattern baldness, also known as androgenetic alopecia<\/a>, is the most common type of hair loss in men which usually begins between the ages of 20-25 years, according to NICE<\/a>.<\/p>\n It is caused by a combination of genetic and hormonal factors and usually involves hair loss from the front and sides of the scalp before progressing towards the back of the head.<\/p>\n Judah, from Cardiff, said it was when his friends started making comments about his hair loss that his insecurities ramped up and his parents began to worry.<\/p>\n “I was so in denial about it, I’d start almost hearing people saying things about it and I would manifest these comments,” said Judah.<\/p>\n “I have hundreds and hundreds of videos of me looking absolutely miserable and checking my hair and hair loss progression.<\/p>\n “I was completely controlled by it.”<\/p>\n Judah is now making a film, More Than What You Are, which reflects the relationship between a boy and his mother as he navigates hair loss<\/p>\n Judah said he told his friends that comments about his hair loss had been affecting him, and that they now respected his boundaries and had been supportive. <\/p>\n He said he had explored treatment options such as medication and hair installations, including a semi-permanent hair piece which he now wears often, and said he hoped others were able to do the same “without shame”.<\/p>\n “It’s about seeing what gives you the most confidence, and being open about it is a bonus,” Judah said.<\/p>\n He is also making a film which draws on his own experiences which he hopes will help to “destigmatise” hair loss.<\/p>\n How can male pattern baldness be treated?<\/p>\n There is no cure for male pattern baldness, but some choose to pursue treatment.<\/p>\n In the UK, there are two medicines licensed to treat male pattern balding – finasteride and minoxidil. Neither are available on the NHS and both can cause unwanted side effects. <\/p>\n Hair installations or systems – such as wigs, toupees or extensions – and skin camouflage products such as pigmented fibre sprays may help to disguise the condition, according to the British Association of Dermatologists.<\/p>\n Surgical treatments, such as hair transplants, can also be sought privately. According to the NHS, the cost of a hair transplant operation in the UK can vary from between \u00a31,000 and \u00a330,000.<\/p>\n![\"Judah](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/aa8cfa10-89bf-11f0-b31d-8d3b90f8db88.jpg.webp.webp\")
Judah Cousin\/More Than What You Are<\/p>\n
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Luke Shepherd \/ BBC<\/p>\n![\"Former](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/51a26a10-89c0-11f0-b31d-8d3b90f8db88.jpg.webp.webp\")
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