A new survey has shed light on the difficulties faced by those who are losing their hair, whether male or female. Commissioned by Viscera, a hair loss supplement company, it was revealed that around a third of Brits suffer from hair loss, or have suffered from it previously. While most of the 1,400 respondents were not overly distressed by the loss of their hair, there was a significant proportion who found the experience extremely difficult.
A quarter of those surveyed said they felt distressed when they looked in the mirror, while a further 33% said it made them overly self-conscious. 20% said their hair loss had lead to them losing confidence in social situations. The negative emotions prompted by hair loss also seemed to open the door to damaging the relationships of those involved, as respondents said they were worried their sexual attractiveness would be affected.
The survey also showed that some people believed that hair loss could lead to discrimination at work, especially for women. 15% believed that men would suffer in their careers as a result of baldness, but more than twice that number thought when women were the sufferers, they would face difficulties in their workplace.
The report was timed to coincide with Hair Loss Awareness month. Dr. Nigel Hunt, a psychologist and author of the report, said that those suffering from the condition should perhaps have better access to therapy to help them cope with their baldness.