Hair Loss Survey Reveals Societal Attitudes Towards Men

Despite hair loss being an extremely common condition that affects people of all ages and genders, it still carries a societal stigma. Whether caused by genetics, medication, or hormonal changes, hair loss can deeply impact a person's confidence. Men, in particular, may feel isolated due to a perceived lack of support.

But how do people in the UK really feel about balding men?

To explore this, we at The Independent Pharmacy conducted a survey aiming to uncover the extent of negativity associated with this condition and its impact on those affected.

So, without further ado, let’s dive into the survey results!

Hair Loss Survey

Our survey of 1,500 UK men yielded some fascinating results about hair loss and society’s attitudes towards the condition.

Overall, based on the survey’s findings, 87% of men have experienced or overheard negative words or phrases used to describe someone's hair loss, with the most common terms being 'Baldy' (68%) and 'Slap head' (54%).

Other common offensive words or phrases include ‘Egg Head’ (41%), ‘Chrome Dome’ (19%) and ‘Cue Ball’ (17%) while only 13% of respondents indicated they had not encountered such negative language.

This highlights the clear stigma towards balding men, with sufferers of the common condition being inundated with offensive terms and insults. This can have a further negative effect on confidence while shaping society to believe a lack of hair is abnormal - which is simply not the case.

Additionally, our survey aimed to find out if men believe they receive more criticism or negativity due to their hair loss condition, in comparison to women.

Both men and women experience hair loss in similar and different ways. Women can lose hair due to hormonal changes following menopause, but genetics and lifestyle impacts can play a factor, similar to men.

Interestingly, the survey uncovered that 70% of respondents believe men are, in fact, treated differently when it comes to hair loss conditions. This includes 68% of 18-to-24-year-olds and 78% of 25-to-34-year-olds, with the younger generations clearly believing a disparity exists.

Whether attributed to ‘lad culture’ or deep-rooted stereotypes, men can experience some harrowing criticism for their hair loss. This can result in men internalising their problems, making it more difficult to cope with the change in appearance with limited support.

The survey results indicate that we need to normalize conversations about hair loss. Proper education is crucial to help men understand how common the condition is and how it affects confidence.

Lastly, our survey aimed to find out the most impactful negative consequences to men of the societal attitudes towards hair loss. This includes all the factors that stem from the condition’s surrounding stigma.

The survey findings revealed ‘decreased self-esteem’ as the biggest impact, with almost one-third (32%) of respondents highlighting this problem. Additionally, this includes 43% of 18-to-24-year-olds, while only 25% of those aged 65 and above believed the same - the lowest out of all age demographics.

Other impacts included; men disguising hair loss with hats, wigs or hairpieces (19%), more men seeking hair treatments (17%) and increased anxiety or depression (15%).

A further 8% revealed the biggest influence was men seeking hair restoration surgery and 7% highlighted changes in social or dating interactions as a negative impact.

Interestingly, while the older generation doesn’t view confidence as the most impactful factor, 29% of those aged 65 or above believed ‘men disguising hair loss’ (with hats, wigs or hairpieces) to be the biggest influence of the negative stigma.

Another fascinating discovery was that only 6% of the older generation believe hair loss stigma leads to increased anxiety or depression - by far the lowest out of all age demographics.

Our survey has produced some engaging statistics about the current stigma surrounding the common condition of hair loss. It’s clear from the results that hair loss has a massive impact on male individuals, influencing their social life, confidence and general mental health.

By educating men on the condition and sharing treatment options, people can be better prepared to deal with hair loss. It can also help to lessen the stigma, revealing how much of an effect it can have on people.

Hair Loss Treatments - What’s Available?

So, what treatments are available to men suffering from hair loss? Firstly, Finasteride 1mg Tablets are effective medications that can be taken to target and tackle male pattern baldness and hair loss.

In clinical trials, Finasteride had a 90% success rate and works by stopping testosterone from converting to dihydrotestosterone, which can shrink hair follicles. Results typically show within 3-6 months.

However, Finasteride is not available over-the-counter and requires a successful consultation before purchasing.

Additionally, another available treatment, following a successful assessment is Regaine Extra Strength For Men, a scalp solution containing the active ingredient, Minoxidil, which is proven to boost hair growth and protect against hereditary hair loss.

1ml of Regaine should be applied on the scalp each day, we recommend not exceeding two applications in a day. Overall, it can take up to 2 months before changes are visible, so patience is required!

For treatments that don’t require a prescription or assessment, Alpecin Caffeine Shampoo can be incorporated into routines, offering much more growth than typical shampoos. Alpecin contains caffeine, zinc and niacin, helping stimulate the growth of new hair.

There’s a range of medicines and hair products available to support men suffering from hair loss. For more details on each product, take a look at our hair loss page here.