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By Christine Haran
Being bald or balding sometimes drives people to desperate
measures; unproven hair loss products and the comb-over
technique are just two. Given the prevalence of pattern
baldness, you might think our society would more readily accept
hair loss, but, in fact, hair loss can have serious
psychological ramifications.
"For most people, hair is an integral part of themselves, so
hair loss really represents losing a part of themselves and
their self image," says Jerry Cooley, MD, of the Carolina
Dermatology Hair Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. "Hair is
also associated with youth, vitality and energy, so, for right
or wrong, most people consider people with hair more
attractive."
Studies have linked pattern baldness not only to
dissatisfaction with one's appearance, but also to lowered
self-esteem and other measures of self-worth. A 1992 study from
the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology found
that most men regard hair loss as an "an unwanted distressing
experience that diminishes their body image." Likewise, a 1999
study published in the Journal of Women's Health and
Gender-Based Medicine found that hair loss in women was
associated with self-consciousness, jealousy and a feeling of
powerlessness about hair loss.
Not surprisingly, gender tends to affect the degree to which
people are bothered by their hair loss. "With men, we can accept
a certain amount of recession and thinning," says Sharon Keene,
MD, of the Physician's Hair Institute in Tucson. "With women, no
degree of thinning is acceptable."
Age also influences the way hair loss affects an individual.
"When men start to lose their hair at 19 or 20, they're
blindsided," says Stanley Teitelbaum, PhD, a psychotherapist in
New York City. "And for men in middle age, hair loss is an
external marker of what they're already beginning to feel
internally: a feeling of decline. This may be a loss of beauty,
or a decline in their physical functioning or sexual prowess."
Although people who are concerned about their hair loss are
sometimes accused of vanity, experts suggest that this
characterization is unfair. "The curiosity shouldn't be that
people losing their hair have difficulty with it, but that we
expect people not to care," Dr. Keane says. "We don't think
twice about people having braces or wearing contact lenses. Hair
is just another object of cosmetic appeal for men and women."
Some people accept their baldness, and as Dr. Teitelbaum
points out, it's in vogue to shave your head. Many celebrity
athletes and actors, for example, are proudly bald. Bald-R-Us
and Bald-Headed Men of America (BHMA) are organizations that
encourage men to revel in their baldness. People who choose this
route might also consider attending BHMA's annual Bald Is
Beautiful conference.
For those who want to change their hair loss situation, there
are a number of options. Some may choose to use a wig or
hairpiece or camouflage products such as Toppik, a power that
makes the scalp less noticeable. Others may choose medical
therapy, such as Propecia, which is only approved for men, or
Rogaine, which is available to men and women.
Surgery is yet another option for those seeking treatment.
Hair transplantation has improved dramatically over the last
decade, and, if performed by a qualified hair transplant
specialist, can leave people with undetectable results.
So don't feel bad about feeling bad about your hair loss.
"It's OK to want to do something about your hair loss," Dr.
Cooley says. "It's a valid condition to seek treatment for."
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