The Psychology of Hair Loss

- How People React to Losing Hair.

The most common type of hair loss is called Androgenetic Alopecia and is a hereditary condition that accounts for the vast majority of all cases of baldness in men and women.

The condition varies between the sexes with women seeing their hair gradually thinning all over the head, whereas men suffer from a receding hairline or a balding spot.

One's genetics determine the extent of hair loss and at what age the condition will commence.

The first reaction to the realisation of hair loss is to simply shrug it off and ignore it. This is particularly evident amongst younger people who are experiencing premature signs of baldness.

However, as the condition progresses and the hair loss becomes quite apparent, the situation can become most traumatic for the afflicted.

They may become depressed and anxious, their self-esteem may plunge, and they may become more and more withdrawn from the world. Their various attempts to disguise the balding may inhibit their desire to run, swim or perform any outdoor activities.

They often begin to avoid intimate contact with others which can constitute major negative effects on their physical and psycho-emotional health.

In these modern times we value our hair as an enhancement, good hair is associated with power, virility and youth.

The bald are sometimes passed over and teased at work, in the media and in the social scene. The media idolises the young and the attractive and often lampoons the bald or balding.

Hair loss can result in various psychological and emotional issues including insecurity, isolation, panic, a sense of loss and depression, as well as induce suicidal tendencies.

It is not just vanity to attempt to recover the loss that people have experienced with balding.

Apart from wanting to look as young as they feel, they may see it as a step up in the business world, or they may see it as a requirement if they work in the entertainment or hospitality industries.

Women often strongly identify their femininity with having shining, thick hair.

The decision to attempt to restore one's hair needs to be an educated one, as a desperate patient can become easy prey for unprincipled purveyors of worthless medications.