It is estimated that 55 million people in the United States suffer from hair loss. Given its societal importance, the psychological impact of hair loss is often a negative emotional response that hinders a person’s self-esteem and personal well-being, particularly in younger hair loss sufferers.
Studies indicate that men and women with hair loss suffer severe declines in self-confidence and 
heightened anxiety over their changing appearance. In more severe cases, people with hair loss can develop body dysmorphic disorder, depression symptoms, or develop withdrawal behavior that diminishes the quality of life.
According to the American Academy of Dermatology, the psychological impact of hair loss can be traumatic, leading patients to go as far as isolating themselves from perceived social embarrassment or shame by abstaining from public or social settings. This can be even worse for women, who account for approximately 40 percent of hair loss cases and often feel increased societal pressures to conform to a specific sense of body image.
Mental Health Consequences
Emotional ordeals have negative consequences on healthy interpersonal and social interactions in both sexes, but mental health issues also create negative impacts on career development and creativity.
An additional obstacle to hair loss sufferers is the public perception that vanity motivates any attempt to disguise or treat baldness. The taboo nature that surrounds public attitudes about addressing hair loss adds to the distress felt by many hair loss sufferers about their appearance.
Changing public perceptions about hair loss and treatment has been encouraging in recent years, but addressing hair loss remains a source of embarrassment for many hair loss sufferers seeking treatment. Public interest in hair transplantation and the acceptance of surgery to address hair loss has grown as the procedure has yielded more and more natural-looking restoration results. Continued awareness of the benefits and medical strides made in the field of hair restoration has helped to make hair transplantation one of the fastest-growing procedures in cosmetic surgery.
Contact The Gabel Center
To learn more about hair loss, the latest medications, and the latest techniques in hair restoration and hair transplant surgery, contact Dr. Gabel’s Hair Transplant Oregon office by completing our online form. Our team at the Gabel Center looks forward to your visit and discussing these matters with you in greater detail.
