Are Millennials Losing Their Hair Faster Than Their Parents?
Perception Can Often Trump Reality
The intergenerational blame-game usually goes something like this: the younger generation thinks most of their problems were caused by the older generation, and the older generation thinks the younger one is lazy and has it easy. To what extent these assertions are actually true is up for debate — but the tightly held perception of truth in these assertions is common among both groups.
The intersection of generational perceptions and realities, and one generation getting the shorter end of the stick can be found in a recent study of 4,000 Chinese university students about hair loss.
Around 2,400 students — 60 percent — reported they were experiencing some degree of hairloss, with 40 percent saying they noticed their hairline was receding. A Chinese dermatologist told the South China Morning Post that he’s been confronted with more and more younger people seeking treatment for hair loss. He said people are starting to lose their hair around the ages of 21 or 22, with hair loss becoming noticeable at 24 or 25.
Hair loss products are popular in the Far East, with research firm Mordor Intelligence saying that the Asia Pacific region is the largest market when it comes to shopping for such products, though the report doesn’t specify which age groups are the biggest purchasers.
All of this is far from conclusive evidence. The survey of university students was based on self-reported perceptions of hair loss, and the Asia Pacific market includes over two-billion people — so high-levels of hair loss product sales are just as much a function of the sheer size of the consumer market as it is an indicator of an increased prevalence in hair loss.
More than 2,000 young people did however report that they thought they were experiencing hair loss, so where does this perceived reality come from?
Higher stress levels could be part of the answer. Surveys have shown that millennials (those between the ages of 24 and 39 in 2020) are suffering higher rates of burnout than the generation before them. Longer work hours coupled with wages that fail to keep up with increased cost of living have created a situation that can be damaging to mental health. Some research has suggested that stress can be a factor in male-pattern baldness, so the link between increased feelings of stress and earlier hair loss could be worth studying.
But it’s also possible that millennials are simply more aware of hair loss and its effect on their appearance, as opposed to it actually being more prevalent. One key distinction between the millennial cohort and those that came before it is the ubiquity of social media in everyday life. According to the Pew Research Center, 90 percent of adults aged 18–29, and 82 percent between 30 and 49 frequent at least one social media site. Technology and social media have created a situation where millennials are used to seeing themselves in photos, and then comparing those photos to others.
To be sure, hair loss as a result of male-pattern baldness (also known as androgenetic alopecia) is very common. The Canadian Dermatology Association says this type of hair loss affects about 50 percent of all men, and can begin as early as one’s teen years. Though each individual’s experience with hair loss will vary, research has shown that it can cause some serious emotional impacts, such as low self-confidence and self-esteem issues.
So while there is no solid evidence to support the notion that millennials are losing their hair at a more rapid rate than their predecessors, hair loss is an issue that should be taken seriously. Men experiencing hair loss, no matter their age, ought to explore the potential treatment options for slowing down the balding process, and even regrow new hair. Scheduling an appointment with a licensed physician is a good first step.
Click here to schedule a free doctor’s appointment through UPGUYS
