EFFECTS OF SELF-PERCEIVED HEIR LOSS IN A COMMUNITY SAMPLE OF MEN

Background: Few studies have quantified the psychosocial effects of ha ir loss using standardized instruments in men not seeking treatment fo r hair loss. Objective: Examine self-perception of hair loss and its e ffects on men from the community. Methods: Men 18-50 years of age recr uited without regard to hair loss, from households near Dayton, Ohio, completed a questionnaire assessing self-perception of hair loss, sati sfaction with hair appearance, hair-loss-specific effects and general health status. Results: Men with greater hair loss had more bother, co ncern about getting older, perceived noticeability to others and great er dissatisfaction with their hair appearance than men with less hair loss. These effects decreased with age for men with hair loss, but reg ardless of age, perceived noticeability of hair loss increased monoton ically with degree of hair loss. Conclusions: Men with greater hair lo ss report more negative effects due to their hair loss across all age groups, but the effects were more pronounced in younger men.