When people look in the mirror, they want to be satisfied with what they see. Once they start seeing unpleasant changes, they start to feel insecure about their looks and this insecurity weighs heavily on their psychology and mental wellbeing. One of the most common of these unwanted changes is hair loss.

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Hair loss can happen for various reasons. For one, it can occur as a result of hormonal imbalances or emotional trauma. Some types of medications or treatments are known to cause hair loss. However, it most commonly affects males as they age due to hereditary factors.

As evidenced by the existence of a massive hair care market including hair products and hairdressing activities, people place a great deal of importance on their hair. After all, it is one of the most important aspects of human aesthetics. It complements facial features, helps define your identity and has a great impact on the impression that you leave on other people. A stylish haircut goes a long way in making a fashion statement. In short, you can never leave hair out when talking about a person’s physical image.

However, for many people—especially men—hair is here today, gone tomorrow. By the age of thirty-five, two-thirds of American males experience noticeable hair loss. It tends to manifest in thinning patches of hair or receding hairline. Although this condition does not affect physical health per se, it takes a heavy toll on self esteem that can potentially lead to mental issues.

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Throughout history hairstyles have been indicative of social status and identity. It’s no surprise that in today's popular culture, hair plays a defining role in representation of personal image. Many celebrities and public personalities sport impressive hairstyles and even express themselves and define their personal styles with innovative haircuts. Witnessing the increasingly significant role of hair in complying with modern beauty standards, a person who is experiencing hair loss might feel left out and end up feeling insecure. This feeling of insecurity might prove hard to deal with and lead to other serious problems.

Developing a poor self image as a result of hair loss can lead to the fear of being judged or perceived negatively by other people, a common trait in people who suffer from social anxiety disorder. People who struggle with anxiety in social situations might feel uncomfortable with expressing themselves and have difficulties in forming intimate relationships. In professional life, social anxiety can lead to poor work performance, as it impairs communicational and interpersonal skills. Many people who suffer from hair loss reportedly change career paths in favor of jobs with minimal social contact as a result of the impulse to make themselves invisible to the public eye.

A person experiencing hair loss might feel like retreating from social activities and stop taking pleasure from his interests and leisurely pursuits. The urge to isolate from other people is a symptom of many severe mental disorders, including major depression. A person who’s constantly looking to avoid social interaction might spiral into a depressed state which worsens over time if left untreated. This mental disorder can severely impact the quality of life, and might even lead to suicidal thoughts.

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As more research is conducted on the link between hair loss and mental disorders, we shall have a more expanded knowledge on the issue and better methods of easing the psychological burden. At first glance it may seem quite peculiar that a seemingly benign (and relatively common) condition can have very grave, potentially life-ruining psychological effects. However, in our day and age where looks quite often do matter, a genetic condition depriving a person of an important aspect of physical appearance can be difficult to endure.

With constantly developing methodology, however, it seems that we have more control than ever. You can explore ways to improve your physical and mental wellness and seek professional psychological help if you feel hair loss is causing you to feel anxious or depressed.

It’s also worth noting that today we have access to more methods to prevent and treat the condition than ever before, including light therapy for hair loss. FDA-sanctioned treatments such as light therapy are safe and provide great results. You can discover the world of hair loss treatment, a wide range of options to revert your hair loss, regain your confidence and enjoy having a full head of hair.