hair loss

Male Pattern Baldness: When Losing Hair Means Losing Self-esteem

Male Pattern Baldness: When Losing Hair Means Losing Self-esteem

Looks matter. Your physical appearance has an impact on many aspects of your life. It obviously has an impact on dating. Surprisingly, it also influences your career.

Hair is a huge part of that.

Hair Changes Through Time

Your so-called crowning glory can dramatically change your appearance. Color your hair a different color, and you will look like a new man. However, through time, hair undergoes transitions. You may be already aware of the changes you will notice as you grow older. The strands in your hair will turn silver. Your hairline will recede. There may become bald spots on your scalp.

There is not much that can be done to stop it. Genetics plays a huge part in how your hair changes as you age. So, if your father and your grandfather went silver or have male pattern hair loss, the chances are high that you will have the same experience.

But, there are certain procedures you can undergo to turn back time and bring their hair back. Some get scalp micro-pigmentation to make their hair look thicker. But make sure to go to a place where the staff has received the best scalp micro-pigmentation training to ensure that the procedure will give you the result you want. The pigment should look natural and will blend in with the hair that you still have.

Others who want a permanent solution go through a hair transplant which is an invasive procedure. It works by moving hair from other parts of your body to the balding section of the scalp. That way, the hair grows normally — as if you did not lose hair at all.

Losing Hair Due to Age

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Hair loss is a common experience among women but more common among men. Globally, an estimated 50 percent of women and 60 percent of men will have some form of hair loss during their lifespan.

The most common cause of hair loss is androgenic alopecia, better known as male pattern baldness. It occurs when hormone levels change, mostly in old age. About 50 million men in the United States are affected by male pattern baldness. Most of them will see their hairlines recede significantly when they reach the age of 50.

Usually, less hair grows on top of the head and over the temples. The hair in these regions that do sprout tends to be thinner and more brittle than before.

Hair Loss as a Source of Insecurity

Unfortunately, despite how common it is, male pattern baldness is a source of insecurity among men. Having thick and long hair has always been seen as a symbol of vitality and masculinity, especially in the olden days. Humans have carried the same belief up to the present. As a result, men who are losing their hair lose their self-esteem. They see hair loss as a very obvious sign of aging and, to an extent, weakness. This will lead to insecurity.

Studies have already been conducted on this problem. One study from 2019 found that androgenic alopecia is linked to a lower quality of life among men. The study involved 200 men, all of whom have male-pattern alopecia. The majority of them are between the ages of 21 and 30.

The researchers revealed that lifestyle and dietary factors such as smoking, alcohol consumption, or the nature of work did not significantly affect the incidence of androgenetic alopecia. However, a family history of the condition was observed in 50 percent of all the participants.

Moreover, the study found that losing hair has harmfully affected the quality of life of all participants. Experts explain that for men who have invested in their appearance, losing their hair can be devastating. It will impact their self-esteem.

Men who are experiencing male-pattern baldness and are struggling to regain their confidence should speak to a mental health professional. Having low self-esteem reduces your quality of life by making you more critical of yourself, damaging your relationships, and prevents you from achieving your goals. A mental health professional can help better deal with the changes in your body as you grow older and give you the tools you need to rebuild your confidence.

Men are also subject to insecurities. As men grow older, their bodies go through changes, too, and some are not considered attractive, according to the mainstream standards of beauty. This leads to low self-esteem that further results in low quality of life.

There are ways to fight it. Some procedures improve the appearance of hair or restore hair to its original glory. Moreover, men can also better deal with the changes in their bodies due to age by speaking to a mental health professional.

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