Hair loss in young people: "For me, it's a catastrophe"

Fabian's successes in dating became rarer and rarer, until they finally failed to materialize. He sees his hair loss as the main reason for his single existence. He is sure that the high forehead and the thin hair at the back of his head will scare off his peers. Because Fabian is not in his late 50s, but 27.

Hair loss is usually associated with older age, but it also affects young people.

According to a study  by the Dr. Wolff Group, a cosmetics and pharmaceutical manufacturer, one in four men in Germany would trade in between 18 and 24 years of age to get fuller hair again. The consequences of dwindling hair are not only noticeable visually: In the study, around 73 percent of affected men between the ages of 25 and 34 report psychological problems due to their hair loss.

It also has an effect on Fabian. He finds it difficult to bear the rejection of dating, he tells bento. Especially because he usually knows the queer community – his dating environment – as more tolerant. "Even though many people say that appearances are only secondary, I am currently noticing the complete opposite," he says.

On social media, he gets up to 300 interactions for his photos if he covers his hair with a cap or cap – without headgear, far fewer and only significantly older people would react to his photos, he says.

Fabian believes that the missing hair is perceived as unaesthetic and does not fit into the image of a young man for many people. The sayings he gets because of it hurt him. "Shaving off my hair is out of the question, however, because I would feel uncomfortable with it," he says, "but I don't have any money for hair replacements at the moment. For me, this is a disaster."

Dr. Christoph Liebich is a dermatologist in Munich. Patients with hair loss often visit his practice.

He says that hair plays an important role in our culture. In application photos, for example, people with full hair would look more attractive than people with hair loss. Because: People subconsciously associate full hair growth with vitality, attractiveness and performance.

It is therefore understandable that those affected react sensitively to hair loss. In most cases, however, this is unfounded. If you find some hair after showering or in bed, this is no reason to panic, says Christoph Liebich: "It's completely normal for us to lose up to a hundred hairs a day." A balanced lifestyle also has an influence on hair growth. For example, according to Liebich, those who are frequently stressed are more likely to lose hair than someone who attaches great importance to a healthy work-life balance.

Contrary to what is often perceived, hair loss is not a purely male issue, women are also affected. Just like Luisa.

Luisa has a very pronounced receding hairline. The 23-year-old says she inherited it from her father. In the receding hairline, thin hair grows only a few centimeters long. Luisa calls them "baby hair". "I try to cover my hairline by wearing my hair down or with bangs. In summer, however, it is often so warm that I do a braid – so the high forehead is of course very noticeable. That's unpleasant." Luisa also believes that the constant hair dyeing between the ages of 13 and 18 has also changed her hair growth. Over time, her hair had become thinner and sometimes fell out completely. At first, Luisa only noticed this in photos, then she noticed it when she looked in the mirror.

"Over time, even close friends and my family approached me about it," she says. At first, she ignored the hair loss. She thought it was just a phase. When things didn't get better, she finally stopped dyeing her hair. "Five years later, however, my hair has not yet recovered," she says. She is certain: "If my hair doesn't at least recover from dyeing, I'll consider a transplant."

According to dermatologist Christoph Liebich, frequent dyeing of the hair is not a mandatory factor for hair loss. However: "Of course, the hair is exposed to chemicals. If you have the dyeing done by a trained hairdresser, this is not a fundamental problem, unless you have an intolerance."

On the other hand, one's own family tree reveals more than chemistry about the change in hair. According to Liebich, for example, men can take their cue from their maternal grandfather, as the genetic information for hair growth often skips a generation (Spiegel Online).

According to the dermatologist, transplants are a sensible option for people who suffer severely from hair loss. But such treatment is expensive in Germany – which is why many patients are treated in Turkey. However, Christoph Liebich advises against this: "Since Turkey is not a member of the EU, as a German you don't have good insurance cover there. Possible damages of treatment would have to be paid out of one's own pocket in Germany, as they are considered self-inflicted."

Osman's hair loss began at the age of 17. Today he is 22 years old and can deal with it in a relaxed manner.

When his first hair fell out, Osman began to doubt himself. He didn't leave the house without a cap.

He felt old next to his friends. It took him some time to accept that he couldn't change anything about his hair loss. Finally, he dared to take a radical step: He shaved his bald head.

"Fortunately, that suited my head shape well. The feedback from my friends and family was positive – I even got quite a few compliments from women," he says.

Therefore, Osman would recommend the same to anyone who also suffers from hair loss: "The thoughts you think about it beforehand are ultimately unfounded. You should accept hair loss because you can't prevent it anyway - and make the best of it."

You can't actually prevent hair loss - but you can prevent it.

According to dermatologist Christoph Liebich, sun protection is very important. "Once the scalp is burned, hair growth can be severely restricted," he says. When the process of hair loss begins, however, it can also be countered with medication (SPIEGEL ONLINE).

Since hair loss often also affects the psyche of those affected, Dr. Christoph Liebich advises a quick decision: "Either you have to stand by your hair loss or actively take action against it. Waiting does not help and rather causes mental problems."

source : Hair loss in young men and women: "For me, it's a catastrophe" - DER SPIEGEL