Effect
of Hair Loss on Appearance and Self-Esteem
When people
realise they are suffering from some form of hair loss, people
instantly wonder what effect this will have on their appearance and
whether this means they will look unattractive or older as a result.
It is no wonder then that plenty of men and women will consider hair
transplantation to overcome what they perceive to be an
age-inappropriate appearance.
People that
unfortunately suffer from hair loss do not want to appear older than
they, or even older than they wish to portray. This is not
necessarily people being vain and many factors may affect their
decision to take such a step.
Reasons for people
to get a hair transplant to avoid age-inappropriate appearance can be
personal, work-related, or a combination of both. In both personal
and work environments, age-inappropriate appearance can substantially
influence one's self-regard, self-esteem, interpersonal and
work-related relationships.
A person’s age
is objectively measured in years, however a person’s appearance can
lead to people making assumptions as to how old they may be.
Most people who
are encountered in the workplace or in social environments probably
do not know your calendar age unless you revealed it to them, but
they quickly make judgments regarding your appearance of age. Along
with their assessment of your apparent age as seen through their
eyes, they may make some judgments regarding what may be called
age-related values.
Believing that
people may be making these assumptions have a dramatic impact on us
and the way we feel. Believing that people may deem us to look older
or less attractive can cause us to have lower self-esteem and in some
cases can cause us to withdraw into ourselves.
The emotional
aspects of living with hair loss can be challenging. Discovery of
hair loss is a stressful experience for both sexes, but substantially
more distressing for women.
Physical beauty is
one of the cornerstones of self-esteem and it is one of the most
vulnerable. The self-esteem levels and other measures of self-worth
drop significantly when hair loss occurs.
Hair is an
important determinant of physical attractiveness and a mean of
expressing individuality. Hair loss affects the individual’s
feelings of attractiveness. For balding women it is especially hard
to live in a society that places great value on youthful appearance
and attractiveness.
Because women are
famous for spending a lot of time and money grooming, dying, curling,
drying, and styling their hair to make it look its best, when they
begin to lose their hair, it is extremely traumatic. This cosmetic
setback is quite intense when a woman is used to having hair and
suddenly finds herself losing it. They can have a lot of trouble
dealing with the reality of hair loss.
In extreme
circumstances, some people really take hair loss badly and get highly
distressed about it, up to the point of getting into depression.
Some people make
assumptions that they are losing something about their control of
their life, things they really can not reverse when they start losing
their hair.
Correcting hair
loss may not be merely a matter of halting loss of hair or replacing
lost hair. Well-planned and long-term management of hair loss
requires professional attention such as that offered by a physician
or hair restoration specialist.
If you are
suffering from hair loss, and are concerned at all about the effects
this may have, it is essential that you consult your GP for their
diagnosis as to whether it may be temporary or likely to continue to
and progressively get worse
