The psychological aspect of hair loss

Hair has always occupied an important place in human culture, as a symbol of youth, strength and power. The words Caesar, Kaiser and Tsar all mean "hairy" in their original form. Male Sikhs don't cut their hair because it is seen as a symbol of strength, and Rastafarians also take pride in displaying their dreadlocks.

So it's little wonder that some men find that hair loss has a negative impact on their body image. Some go to desperate lengths, paying out for useless hair-loss remedies or consulting unscrupulous hair-transplant surgeons who may even make the problem worse. Before you embark on such a course, you should perhaps ask yourself just why your hair loss bothers you so much. It may be more appropriate to seek counselling or other psychological treatment.

Hair loss can be the trigger for all kinds of psychological problems, such as:

• social withdrawal
• discomfort and self-consciousness in public, especially when meeting new people
• lack of confidence in social and sexual situations
• low self-esteem
• clinical depression, despair, and even suicide

Of course, some people are not concerned at all about their hair loss. It could be that those who really get upset by it are insecure and vulnerable anyway, and prone to emotional problems. However, whichever comes first, hair loss or psychological difficulties, it's important that any mental health problems are treated.