Hair is probably one of the first things people notice in someone and they tend to form an opinion about their personality. Whether curly, loose, straight or just natural, no doubt your hair says something about you. Good, healthy hair not only gives you confidence, but also helps you make a style statement. In case the hair starts to fall out prematurely and at an early age it has a great psychological effect on the person. Studies have found that substantial hair loss could lead to a lack of self-esteem and a host of other mental health issues ranging from stress and anxiety to suicidal tendencies in extreme cases. (See photos: Do you suffer from hair loss? Here are some superfoods that you should add to your diet right away)
Dr. Debraj Shome, a cosmetic surgeon, and Dr. Rinky Kapoor, a dermatologist at The Esthetic Clinics, conducted a questionnaire-based study of patients visiting different cities in Mumbai, Delhi, Calcutta, and Bangalore. The study has been published in the journal Dermatological Reviews, on the impact of alopecia (hair loss) on the quality of life of adults in India. To understand the effects of hair loss on people, about 800 patients over the age of 18 responded to the questionnaire, of which 442 were men and 358 women. From the data, it was observed that in the age group of 18 to 30 years, 30% of men and 27% of women reported hair loss problems that affected their social life. They felt depressed, stayed home and avoided socializing. Many of them were reported to feel embarrassed, embarrassed, frustrated, humiliated, or upset because of alopecia.
“Bald or thinning hair may be more traumatic for women in a society and culture where a bald man may be socially acceptable, but a bald woman is not with her hair symbolic of her femininity. to mental health and public health concern of alopecia need to be recognized and an interdisciplinary approach should be taken for its resolution, ”says Dr. Rinky Kapoor, dermatologist at The Esthetic Clinic.
“Alopecia or hair loss can have a psychological impact in the form of stress, anxiety, depression, loss of confidence, low esteem, suicidal thoughts and social phobia to affect their physical appearance. Approximately 50% of men and women regardless of age are affected by alopecia due to various factors such as physical, chemical, hormonal changes, autoimmune and inflammatory diseases, congenital diseases, infections and neoplasms, etc. This shows that what is not there has on the head (hair) can really affect the inside of the head, “says Dr. Debraj Shome, a renowned cosmetic surgeon, co-founder of The Esthetic Clinics.
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