Does hair play a significant role in how we identify ourselves?

Hair has greater social and psychological significance for us compared to its biological function for humanity. Hair has no essential function in humans except to provide cranial padding and protection from the sun's rays.

Does hair play a significant role in how we identify ourselves?

Hair has greater social and psychological significance for us, compared to its biological significance for mankind. Hair has no essential function in humans except to provide some cranial padding and protection from the sun's rays.

Beyond its sociological significance, hair can become an important part of self-identity or body image. A head full of hair is often perceived as a sign of sex, youth, vigor and status. Hair is a unique part of us that can be changed and styled as desired. It can be dyed, cut and curled.

The term "bad hair day" is evidence of the psychological importance of hair. A person suffering from hair loss may experience a "bad hair day" every single day. A person with hair loss may go through several emotions due to personal and social pressures. Hair loss can cause psychological stress out of proportion to the problem. (6)

Common causes of hair loss:

Pattern of hair loss - generic alopecia:

• Progressive, symmetrical thinning of the hair, front, top and sides of the scalp.

• An inherited condition caused by exposure to the male sex hormone dihydrotestosterone.

• Hairline thinning can occur in both sexes, but pronounced hairline recession is primarily seen in men. (1)

• The typical pattern of male pattern baldness begins at the hairline at the front of the head. The hairline gradually moves backwards (retracts) and forms an "M" shape. A circular area at the back of the head (vertex) often thins and expands in size over time. Eventually, the hair becomes finer, shorter and thinner, creating a U-shaped (or horseshoe) pattern of hair around the sides of the head and a bald area at the back of the head. (2)

The typical female pattern baldness:

• Hair thins mainly on the top and crown of the scalp.

• Usually starts with an extension through the middle part of the hair, known as the "Christmas tree pattern".

• The hairline at the front usually remains unaffected.

• Hair loss rarely progresses to total or near-total baldness, as it can in men. (3)

Diffuse hair loss – Telogen effluvium:

• Loss of hair evenly over the scalp, triggered by stress factors such as illness, pregnancy and nutritional deficiencies.

• Normal to lose between 100-200 hairs per day. If more than 200 hairs are lost per day, it may be diffuse hair loss. (1)

• Can occur after acute events or stressors such as serious illness, thyroid disease, pregnancy, malnutrition, rapid weight loss, iron deficiency anemia or lack of vitamin D. (1)

• Telogen effluvium does not require specific drugs as the condition is self-limiting and usually resolves within 3-6 months, but sometimes up to a year, if the trigger is removed. Complete recovery can take a year. (4)

Patchy hair loss – Alopecia areata (AA):

• Autoimmune disorders that develop in childhood can affect individuals regardless of age, gender and ethnicity.

• Loss of hair in patches on the scalp, face and body. (1)

• AA usually presents as smooth, sharply demarcated, round patches of hair loss without atrophy, with "exclamation point hair" observed at the periphery of the patches

• Specific terms for the disease include alopecia universalis (AU) (total body hair loss) and alopecia totalis (AT) (total scalp hair loss). (5)

I have spoken to many people who suffer from hair loss for various reasons. It is often a painful topic to talk about, both for men and women, young and old. But....some people think it's perfectly fine not to have hair, and that's their identity. They feel very comfortable not having hair and it's absolutely wonderful!

take care,
Hair or no hair, you are all beautiful!