SOCIAL IMPACT OF HAIR LOSS IN MEN AND ITS MANAGEMENT

www.wjpr.net Vol 3, Issue 6, 2014. 1964

SOCIAL IMPACT OF HAIR LOSS IN MEN AND ITS MANAGEMENT

Shahid Masood Raza1, 2,Daulat Haleem Khan2,3, Musaddiq Hussain1, Umair Ikram Dar3, Muhammad Zaman4, Izzatullah Khan3, Muhammad Yasir Ali5, Faiza Mumtaz2,

Rabia Munir5.

1

School of Pharmacy, The University of Faisalabad, Faisalabad, Pakistan.

2

Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Sargodha, Sargodha, Pakistan.

3

Lahore College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan.

4

University of Lahore, Lahore, Pakistan.

5

Government College University, Faisalabad, Pakistan.

ABSTRACT

The study aims to evaluate the social impact of hair loss in men and the

success of medical and surgical treatments for hair loss. Hair is

considered as one of the most important and defining aspect of human

appearance. Androgenetic alopecia or male pattern baldness (MPB) is

responsible for the vast majority of hair loss in men. MPB sufferers

actually inherit hair follicles with a genetic sensitivity to

Dihydrotestosterone (DHT). A structured data collection form was

designed with open and close ended questions and a retrospective

study was conducted on 111 patients, aged between 18 to 65 years

from March 28th – May 2nd, 2012. After evaluation of data, it was

found that MPB did have a negative effect on social lives of men. They became more

depressed, introverted, less confident and in some way their career was affected too. The

results showed that success rate of hair transplantation was more than medicines, as people

were reluctant to use them. Minoxidil spray was used more than the finasteride tablets.

Quality of life of patients was significantly improved. Role of Pharmacists was not very

significant.The patients should be made aware of the existence of pharmacists as they can

ensure rational use of medicines.

KEY WORDS: Androgenetic alopecia, Quality of life, DHT, Social impact, Pharmacist, MPB.

Volume 3, Issue 6, 1964-1971. Research Article ISSN 2277 – 7105

Article Received on 30 June 2014,

Revised on 25 July 2014, Accepted on 20 August 2014

*Correspondence for

Author

Shahid Masood Raza

School of Pharmacy, The

University of Faisalabad,

www.wjpr.net Vol 3, Issue 6, 2014. 1965 INTRODUCTION

Hair is known to be the symbolic meanings for many cultures and societies. Hair is symbol of

identity, personality, appeal, and kindness. Sometimes hair reflects the social, political and

religious beliefs.[1] Male Pattern Baldness (MPB) or androgenetic alopecia is a hereditary

characteristic of hair loss.[2] Alopecia can affect both sexes and all age groups.[3] MPB affects

half of the adult population (male) and produce discomfort in their lives.[4] Although the

knowledge of hair follicle, anatomy of scalp and the dynamics of hair cycle is very important

but the histopathology is uncertain about the MPB or androgenic alopecia.[5]Androgenetic

alopecia is the thinning of hair in susceptible males.[6, 7] This thinning starts between the age

of 12 and 40 years.[8; 9] The people worried about their MPB have four options as to do

nothing, use a wig, go for medical treatment or have surgery.[10] Patients with some types of

hair loss can be treated by the two drug which are approved as minoxidil and finasteride,

which promote hair growth by increasing diameter and length of already present

hairs.[11]Interest is developed in the potential role of laser or light based therapy for

androgenetic alopecia. There is no scientific data supporting the claims of centers and market

claiming high success rate in hair loss treatment by laser or light.[12] The MPB has fewer

physical effects but it has major psychological effects like severe depression and anxiety.

Limited effectiveness of medical treatment with no proper cure can lead the patient very

distressed.[13] Alopecia has negative effect on patient’s daily life and specially affects

patient’s self-pride.[14]

Methodology

A structured data collection form was formulated

Inclusion Criteria

Only people who had hair loss problem and those who had received hair transplant were

included in the study. Ages between 18-60 years were selected.Only Male patients were

included in the study

Exclusion Criteria

Only patients with male pattern baldness (MPB) were included in the study, other patients

www.wjpr.net Vol 3, Issue 6, 2014. 1966 Area of study

This study was conducted at 2 hair transplant centers in Lahore.1) International Laser and

Hair transplant Centre 2) Hair club.

Study design

A retrospective study was conducted on total of 111 patients. Study was conducted from 28th March-2nd May 2012. Information was collected by from their medical files and from the

patients as well.A data collection form was designed by using standard methods. Age,

socioeconomic background, family history, past medical history was also taken. Social

impact on their lives and career was recorded in the form. Dataanalysis was performed using

SPSS version16.0.Cross tabulation was used in the form of frequencies and Chi-square test.

Results are shown in the form of bar graphs and tables.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Baldness doesn’t seem to be a very big problem, but it is leading to psychological and social

problems in men of different ages.

In this study, it was seen that Androgenetic alopecia or MPB, was first noticed in ages

between 18-25 years. But, some patients did experience hair loss in 15-18 years of age. Hair

loss can begin at 12 years of age as well. The next sharp peak of hair loss is seen at 35-40

years of age(Fig.1).73.9% patients felt that their hair loss was worsening and 24.3% were of the view that it was not worsening(Fig.2) It was seen that the cause of androgenetic alopecia was hereditary, because cases from paternal side were (84.7%) and from maternal side were

(9.9%). 65.8% people were found to be under severe amount of stress which can be a cause

of hair loss.

Alopecia can make people anxious about their personalities and (55.9%) were very anxious

with this problem and (29.7%) were somewhat anxious, (11.7%) were extremely anxious

about it. (p- value was found to be 0.067). (Fig.3)

Hair loss can have an adverse impact on relationships with others. 68.5% patients were of the

view that their relationship with their family was a little affected and wasn’t bad (p-value

0.557), (94.6%) patients had same relationship with their friends and (55.9%) said that it had

made things difficult at times (p- value 0.912). In (88.3%) patients, hair loss had made things

www.wjpr.net Vol 3, Issue 6, 2014. 1967 Figure 1: Decrease in hair count at different age groups

Figure 2: Age groups when the hair loss sorses

www.wjpr.net Vol 3, Issue 6, 2014. 1968 Figure 4: Impact of baldness on work relations

The results show that most of the people did not use any kind of medication for hair loss.

Fewmen used minoxidil spray and/or Genesis tablets between 18-41 years of age, (p- value

obtained 0.426). Hair spray was mostly used by people as it is more convenient, according to

the people(Fig.5).Above mentioned medicines were prescribed mostly by the doctors

(33.7%), by pharmacists (2.7%), and 7.2% patients were on self-medication; (1.8%) people

learned about these medicines through internet(p- value obtained was 0.47) and the rest of

them did not use any kind of medicines for alopecia(Fig.6). 55.9% of the patients did lose confidence to face people while 44.1 % people did not lose their confidence level(Fig.7).

www.wjpr.net Vol 3, Issue 6, 2014. 1969 Figure 6: From where you get the advice about medicine

Figure 7: Percentage of age groups who feel the lost confidence

(94.6%) patients had a little effect on relationship with their friends and (55.9%) said that it

had made things difficult at times (p- value 0.912)(Fig.8)

Fig.9 shows that hair transplant was more useful than medicines.33.3% people were of the view that hair transplant is useful whereas 7.2% people used medicines and found them

effective. As, medicines take quite a long time to show their effects people were more

www.wjpr.net Vol 3, Issue 6, 2014. 1970 Figure 8: Impact on relationship with friends

Figure 9: How much the treatment used was helpful

CONCLUSION

Androgenetic alopecia or male pattern baldness can have significant impact on the social

lives of people who are affected by it.They experience different psychological problems such

as depression and introversion. Most of the people do take antidepressants for these

conditions.Their relations with their families, friends and co-workers can be adversely

affected. Hair loss, if not treated, can lead to serious changes in the personality of the

affectee. Hair loss can be treated very effectively in 21st Century by the use of medicines and

through a better option of Hair transplantation. Results are permanent and very effective. The

success rate of hair transplantation was found to be much more than the use of medicines.

Medicines are effective when people continue them for a longer period of time and if people

www.wjpr.net Vol 3, Issue 6, 2014. 1971 REFERENCES

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