Many Australians are Losing Their Hair – Learn Why
As 2021 continues there appears to be a growing trend in Australia of people losing their hair in growing numbers. When asked why hair loss was becoming an issue in Australia, experts say the surge of patients appear to be suffering from stress-related hair loss that is also related to COVID-19.
Hair Loss Explained
When the issue of baldness is discussed among the public, they generally picture thinning hair or a large amount of hair loss from the scalp. The most common form of baldness is caused by hereditary patterned hair loss in both men and women.
Besides patterned hair loss, patients can also suffer from circular or patchy bald spots or they can experience a sudden amount of hair loss after a physical or emotional shock (which is known as shock loss).
Hair loss that is the result of stress is a condition known as Telogen Effluvium. The ongoing coronavirus pandemic has certainly been a stressful situation for people all over the world including the citizens of Australia. Doctors in Australia say they are seeing many people coming to their offices with hair loss that has been triggered by COVID-19 stress including lockdowns and worries about friends and family.
In addition, the body can experience stress caused by poor sleep quality and changes in the exercise and diet plan of a person. If the body is suffering from chronic or acute stress, it will use any available resources to repair and/or protect itself. Because of the repair process, there are “non-essential” systems in the body that can be stopped, reduced or paused.
Additional COVID-19 Hair Loss Cause
There is another cause of hair loss that is related to COVID-19 and stress and that cause is trichotillomania. This psychological condition is one that causes people to involuntarily pull out their existing hair. Both stress and anxiety are thought to be two likely cause of this condition as stress and anxiety are suffered by many people during the coronavirus pandemic. The continual pulling or plucking of the hair can lead to a breaking of the hair and the formation of bald spots on the scalp.
Australia Hair Loss and Growing Sales
The loss of hair suffered by many citizens of Australia is resulting in a growth in sales for online and physical stores that sell hair and beauty products. One founder of hair restoration shampoos, tonics and conditioners in Australia reported a growth in retail sales of 400% due to the number of people worried about their hair loss.
Another hair loss product company reported a 40% increase in their “anti-hair loss shampoo and conditioner” since the start of COVID-19 in 2020. This company plans on keeping up with the increased customer demand by developing additional products such as sprays and serums designed to treat hair loss and promote a healthy scalp and hair growth.
How to Deal with COVID-19 Related Hair Loss
One of the most effective methods to prevent further hair loss is to reduce and/or eliminate the source of the stress causing the condition. This is definitely easier said than done as some people are unable to deal with the stress from COVID-19 on their own (as well as any other causes of stress). Reach out to friends and family or medical professionals to help find ways to calm the mind and ease the amount of stress felt on a daily basis.
The most effective and long-lasting medical treatment for hair loss is a hair transplant. This surgical procedure takes hair from one part of the body and implants it in the balding areas of the scalp.
One of the most popular hair transplant methods is Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE). During FUE hair transplant surgery, a surgeon removes hair grafts that are usually taken from the donor area of the scalp. The hair follicles are harvested individually and then placed in premade incisions in the scalp. The donor area of the scalp is considered to be the back and sides of the scalp. Hair transplant surgeons use the hair from this area of the scalp since it is resistant to balding. Once the hair grafts are placed in the balding area of the scalp, it grows like normal hair already found in the scalp. The results are both natural and undetectable to the average eye.
If there is not enough high-quality donor hair in the donor area of the scalp, donor hair can be taken from other areas of the body such as the beard and chest.
If you suffering from hair loss closer to home than Australia, get more information about a Los Angeles hair transplant procedure for hair loss that is the result of COVID-19, or any other hair loss cause, by contacting our office today to schedule a consultation appointment. We also have a Northern California office that offers San Francisco hair transplant services. In addition, ask us about Beverly Hills hair restoration appointments when you give us a call. Our team of board-certified, hair transplant surgeons will examine the scalp of our patients to determine the cause of the hair loss and the best hair restoration technique to provide the desired final results.
– MA
