Dealing with Hair Loss
Psychological effects of hair loss

However insignificant hair loss may appear to those who are not afflicted by it, hair loss can be a devastating disease that chews away at a person’s confidence and self worth. In today’s politically correct environment, where just about any kind of statement that carries negative connotations about another human is frowned upon, it still seems that the subject of hair loss, and those who suffer from it, is fair game. Interestingly, as approximately 40% of men will suffer from hair loss, it is still considered a minority problem, and many of those who suffer from it feel alone and isolated.

Mainstream media often portray balding men as either physically weak, or grossly overweight, and indeed many of the images that we are bombarded with on a daily basis do nothing but reinforce the notion that a healthy head of hair is considered desirable and sexy. Thankfully, the situation of women losing their hair is not a subject, for the most part, to ridicule and torment in the fashion arena that male hair loss is, but the effects of hair loss can be particularly disturbing for a woman. It may be harder for a woman to come to terms with hair loss, as the subject isn’t as widely and openly discussed as male hair loss. People suffering from hair loss as a result of medication or disease can often find themselves having to explain their situation to acquaintances and work colleagues as a result of the hair loss – when they would have preferred to keep their condition quiet from all but their loved ones.

A male on the other hand will begin to see the onset of male pattern baldness from his early twenties. Most males at this age may still be seeking their life partners so this development can be a catastrophic blow, often leading to mild psychiatric problems as a result – socializing less, avoiding exercise and sports when contact with other people is likely, wearing hats or other appendages constantly, overcompensating with facial hair, growing hair long on one side to brush over the balding area etc. While these activities may seem trivial, they are nonetheless triggered by the emotional state of the person and their objectiveness to their hair loss situation.