You know who they are: that bald guy who operates the elevator, that old lady with the awfully thinning hair who makes the best sandwich, and your boss who is so busy he doesn’t even seem to notice his receding hairline. They are everywhere. Obviously, hair (or lack of it) is one of the features that are easily associated with people, right up there with built and height.
This gives some context to why hair loss sufferers often live in distress, especially in a culture where a full head of hair is a sign of youth and good health. Hair isn’t just about vanity; it is how people see you, which ultimately affects the way you see yourself. It is more than just a physical struggle but an emotional one.
To say that Filipinos care about their hair is an understatement. They care about their hair a lot. Adobo magazine cites Google Trends in its finding about the Philippines being the second among its Southeast Asian neighbors in making online hair-related searches. Coping with hair loss definitely hits a sore spot.
Who are these hair loss patients? Could you be one of them? Get a glimpse of the profiles of hair loss sufferers, their lifestyle and habits. Learn about the things they have in common. Get to know who they are.
The Middle-Aged Gen-Xer
He is usually that 40-something male in the office who does not care about One Direction disbanding. Chances are he holds a managerial position and comes to the office in a neatly tucked long sleeve. Gen-X is a generation born post-baby boom, between mid-1960s to 1980s. They belong in the 35 to 50-ish age bracket.
Two-thirds of men experience some sort of hair loss by age 35, usually made even worse by genetics. Male pattern baldness (MPB), the most common kind, is the usual suspect of hair loss in men. It starts at the hairline that finally ends in a deserted scalp. MPB is the most common diagnosis for men seeking to have hair transplant procedure.
The Grumpy, Busy Co-worker
He is that middle-aged guy who is always complaining about Manila traffic the moment he gets to the office. He is always on a deadline. She could also be that girl who had just broke up with her long-time lover. They experience extreme stress. While they don’t directly cause one to lose hair, they can trigger physiological changes that may lead to hair loss.
Dr. Amy McMichael, professor of dermatology, said there are no studies directly connecting emotional stress and hair loss. She says it remains a mythical connection. However, among the characteristics of hair loss patients may be traced back to certain physiological stressors. For example, a woman who just broke up with a boyfriend may not have the same appetite for food, causing her to lose weight. She exposes herself to potential hair loss not because she is emotionally struggling but because she lost 20 pounds. Same goes for stressors that won’t let you sleep or forces you to shake up your diet.
The Girl Who Lives in a Salon
She is the girl who changes hair color every month. She comes to the office all made up, sometimes with straight hair and sometimes with curly tips.
She needs to be told that hair appliances and too much treatment can damage hair overtime and may lead to hair loss. Temperatures over 347 degrees may cause permanent damage. Hair devices such as a straightening or a curling iron use as much as 410 degrees. Hot oil treatments can cause inflammation of hair follicles. Excessive hair styling or hair dos that pull your hair tight also have consequences.
Bleach, coloring, and other cosmetics can also damage hair. They take out the hair’s natural moisture, making it prone to breakage, brittleness, and hair fall.
If she is not informed about this sooner, her trip to the salon may soon be a trip to a hair loss specialist. You may know this person, so go on and help a friend suffering from hair loss.
The Woman with Hormonal Shifts
“It’s the hormones” is probably one of her favorite lines or what people always say about her when she seems to be throwing tantrums around. The truth is that hormones are really to blame for a few things including hair loss in women.
After childbirth, a woman may experience hair thinning. When a woman has been taking birth control pills for years then stops after deciding she wants to have a baby may see more hair falling in the shower than usual. Even changes in the monthly menstrual cycle can be a bummer. The good thing is hair loss caused by hormonal imbalance is rarely permanent and can usually grow back.
The Hair-Pulling Lady
She is that middle-aged or probably old lady that sits behind a desk looking all confused and stressed. Her favorite habit is pulling her hair. The medical term for that is trichotillomania, a compulsive behavior in which a person pulls hair from the scalp, eyelashes, or eyebrows. This is one of the causes of hair loss in women, although men are not exempted. The habit often results in bald patches and noticeable hair loss. You will notice that people who have this bad habit usually feel tensed before pulling their hair and then feel some sort of relief right after.
So, are you one of them? Or are you familiar with their profile?
It is important to learn about hair loss sufferers and what they go through to have a glimpse of their struggle. Knowing these profiles also teaches you how not to fall in the same trap or what to do and expect in case you can’t get out. For advice on hair loss solutions, there are accessible hair transplant clinics in Manila.