Androgenetic Alopecia Severely Impacts Psychological Well-Being, Especially in Early-Onset and Severe Cases: Study
Researchers have established in a new study that androgenetic alopecia (AGA) considerably affects psychological well-being, particularly among men and those who lose hair during their early years. The participants of a recent Turkish study who had AGA showed high levels of emotional distress, stigmatization, and low self-esteem. Maximum psychological burden was noted among men with advanced AGA and among individuals with an earlier onset than the age of 20. The study was published in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology by Arzu F. and fellow researchers.
The research was carried out in a university hospital in Turkey and involved 390 patients diagnosed with AGA from January 2023 to 2024. Patients were assessed regarding severity of AGA, psychological load, sociodemographic background, and social media use. Psychological load was measured using standardized questionnaires that measured emotional distress, functional impairment, stigma perception, and self-esteem. Further, researchers also collected data regarding which social media platforms patients used to seek information on alopecia and whether it impacted their treatment selection.
Results
It showed clear gender differences in the severity of AGA and the resulting psychological burden.
The mean age at onset was 23.9 years in men and 29.46 years in women.
Severe AGA occurred in 38.5% of men and 41% of women.
Nonetheless, men expressed substantially higher levels of emotional (p = 0.05) and functional (p = 0.003) distress, reflecting greater psychosocial impact in males even with comparable severity rates.
One of the strongest findings was that early-onset AGA, or hair loss that started before age 20, was strongly linked to greater psychological burden. These men reported:
Greater emotional distress (p = 0.007)
More functional impairment (p < 0.001)
Higher stigma scores (p = 0.037)
Less self-confidence (p < 0.001)
Androgenetic alopecia exerts significant mental health impact, especially among men with high hair loss and patients with premature-onset AGA. Despite extensive online coverage of hair loss on social media platforms, hair loss does not impact behavior to any significant degree or reduce psychological distress. Both physical and emotional components of hair loss must be treated in order to offer full patient care.
Reference:
Ferhatosmanoğlu, A., Karaca Ural, Z., Baykal Selçuk, L., Arıca, İ. E., & Aksu Arıca, D. (2025). Comprehensive evaluation of androgenetic alopecia: Demographic characteristics, psychosocial impact, and the role of social media in treatment choices. Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 24(4), e70167. https://doi.org/10.1111/jocd.70167
