As we know, hair loss effects people non different ways. According to a recent survey, almost 75% of men feel less confident about themselves with the onset of hair loss, while 60% of men with hair loss say that they have been ridiculed for their baldness at some point in their lives. The survey also states about 63% of women claim to have career related problems because of hair loss. A study in JAMA facial plastic surgery found that a few more hair follicles can make all the difference between people seeing you as a success or a lost cause. What is the reality for people who have a full head of hair compared to people suffering from various stages of hair loss?
On many occasions, people who have hair are looked at as “then popular kids in school.” They have good jobs, self confidence, are dating the best looking women / men, drive the best cars and so on! Of course we know this isn’t always true and people with no hair can and do suffer as much as people suffering from differing degrees of hair loss. Unfortunately, hair loss can cause many different mental health issues.
Hair loss may lead to depression, anxiety, and social phobias. Depression can lead to a feeling of low mood, lack of interest or pleasure in activities, loss of energy, and sleep deprivation. Anxiety can cause excessive worrying, difficulty in controlling those feelings, and a feeling of heightened tension. Patients may also complain of heart palpitations and sweating.
Social phobias or avoidance behaviour follows on from the experience of anxiety symptoms, leading to social and economic suffering. A Social anxiety disorder is characterised by the fear of humiliation or being judged negatively in social situations as well as the avoidance of such social or performance situations. These symptoms can have a severe impact on an individual’s mental health, ability to work or study, and well-being.
Research into the psychological problems associated with hair loss is limited. The evidence confirms that the experience of hair loss is psychologically damaging, causing intense emotional suffering, and often leading to personal, social, and work related issues. People with severe hair loss are more likely to experience psychological distress than those with mild hair loss. The loss of hair changes a person’s looks, particularly when the eyelashes and eyebrows are affected as they define a person’s face. Hair loss may be seen as a failure to conform to the norms of physical appearance within society.
The relationship between hair loss and psychosocial consequences may be complicated by hair loss that eventuates from a stressful experience or life event, which then leads to further distress, anxiety, and depression. Women who experience high levels of stress are eleven times more likely to experience hair loss than those who do not report high stress levels. Compared with the general population, people with hair loss have an increased prevalence of psychiatric disorders, including a major depressive episode, an anxiety disorder, social phobia, or a paranoid disorder.
On a personal level, I suffered from low self esteem and self confidence prior to my scalp micropigmentation treatments. I did not look at someone with hair and envy them thinking they have a better life then I do because they have a full head of hair….but that’s just me. I know that everyone deals with different types of inner demons and mine was losing my hair art a very young age.
