Psychological effects of balding

Ayo Otubanjo

Ayo Otubanjo

Baldness can have a significant traumatising effect on our lives.  People experiencing hair loss sometimes exhibit certain psychological and emotional symptoms,
which are related to how they perceive themselves and how they think other people perceive them. Many people are able to reconcile themselves to a life of hair loss or baldness, but others may develop serious psychological conditions, such as depression and anxiety.

In all our clinics worldwide, our consultants are trained in identifying clients who might be suffering psychological effects from their hair loss issues. These effects are not brushed off or dismissed as self-pity or loathing, but they are taken seriously and addressed during the free consultation we offer our clients. In the most extreme cases, clients are referred to specialist psychologists or therapists for professional assessment and help.

Hair loss certainly has an effect on how people look. A receding hairline results in the person looking older than they really are. This dramatically affects the way they see themselves with potentially a resulting loss in self confidence. I have consulted with young men in their early 20s with receding hairlines or baldness and have heard numerous stories such as their lack of confidence in approaching the opposite sex. In one particular case, the young man said he was fed up with other people mistaking him for his girlfriend’s father!

Women, in particular, have been known to have a more difficult time adjusting to hair loss. A study conducted by the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology showed that women suffered more emotionally and mentally, and were more likely to develop a negative body image due to hair loss when compared to men who were dealing with the same issue. On the other hand, almost 75 per cent of men feel less confident about themselves with the onset of hair loss, while  60 per cent of men with hair loss say that they have been ridiculed for their baldness at some point in their lives.

Because our hair is our crowning glory and such a defining feature, it can affect the way we are perceived and how we perform in the workplace. For example, hair loss can have a profound effect on someone who works in front of the camera such as in the media, or someone who is constantly in the public eye. Studies have shown that some employers are unfortunately swayed against hiring people who are balding, because they are perceived as being older and might not necessarily fit in with their company’s brand or image. According to some surveys, about 63 per cent of women claim to have career-related problems because of hair loss.

While some people are able to tolerate their hair loss, others may encounter difficulties dealing with it and may enter into chronic depression as a result. Research and surveys show that people who experience hair loss often feel as though they are losing control over their lives. They despair that their hair loss is irreversible, and have high levels of anxiety. In addition, people who already suffer from disorders such as obsessive compulsive disorder and body dysmorphic disorder are further aggravated by the onset of hair loss.

The good news for anyone suffering from hair loss is that a solution is readily available in many forms. No longer should anyone accept baldness or hair loss as inevitable because of their family history or any other reasons. Genetically linked baldness and other forms of hair loss can be prevented or reversed through medication or surgical procedures.

There are now clinical centres in Nigeria, specifically set up for hair loss restoration at Vinci Hair Clinic in Lagos and Abuja clinics