How Hair Loss Can Affect Women Psychologically
As stressful as hair loss can be for a man, it is usually even worse psychologically for a woman. Many scientific studies have even been conducted on this topic. The studies have shown that women are far more likely to suffer painful emotional distress due to hair loss and that the psychological effects on a women are worse than on a man. Psychologists and physician investigators have actually conducted focused studies where they have used specific questionnaires that were designed to gauge the level of trauma.
More often than men, women have a fairly significant psychological investment in their appearance. So when they have an issue like advanced hair loss, it can cause them very deep emotional trauma.
Most men feel that it is fairly socially acceptable for a man to be bald. However, for most women, their hair is a symbol of beauty and brings a certain level of self-esteem. So when that hair is no longer there, it can be very overwhelming trying to figure out alternative solutions such as a hair transplant or hair piece.
The other issue that women face with hair loss is the social stigma of it. For men it is not uncommon to joke and find humour in the hair loss. But a woman who is bald may start to notice long looks from strangers and even family members and friends. Curious children may ask questions like “What happened to all of your hair?” For the woman that is experiencing these moments, the effect can be devastating, especially if they are feeing hopeless about their hair restoration.
Unfortunately, female pattern baldness is not as widely recognized as male pattern baldness, even though both are common. The emotional distress of a woman who is suffering from hair loss is underappreciated. This is most likely due to a lack of education on the subject.
The most common causes of hair loss in women
Female pattern hair loss (androgenic alopecia) – A hereditary form of hair loss and also the most common
Alopecia areata – Hair is lost in patches on the scalp and even the eyebrows (cause is still unknown)
Telogen effluvium, or “shock loss” – A temporary form of hair loss that causes hair to fall out all over; typically caused by extreme stress, high fever, dietary issues, or hormonal imbalance
Pregnancy – Sometimes the biggest “shock loss” trigger in women
Traction alopecia – Over time, tight braids and cornrows can cause this permanent form of hair loss
Over-styling – Excessive use of hair dryers and straighteners as well as the misuse of certain chemicals used to treat hair can all lead to damaged hair that may eventually fall out.
We can help. We want to help!
If you are a woman who is suffering from any level of hair loss, we want to help you. There are so many available treatments to help stop and reverse the effects of hair loss. So many advancements have and continue to be made in the field of hair restoration. Please contact us today if you have any concerns about your hair loss.
