Women's hair loss a growing problem

MORE and more Irish women are suffering from hair loss, a comprehensive new survey has revealed.

- BY LARISSA NOLAN

One in four females here struggle with hair loss, and don't know what to do about it, the Peter Mark online survey of 1,443 women aged 18 to 65 plus from July to August showed.

Hair loss in women generally includes excessive shedding, thinning hair, bald patches and receding hairlines.

Hair experts at Peter Mark say thinning hair or hair loss is a growing problem for Irish women, with more than a quarter (28%) worried about it and a fifth (23%) unhappy with their locks.

Hair shedding has now replaced hair breakage and dryness as the biggest issue for women and is now a “major concern”, the study found.

Peter Mark released the findings to mark Hair Loss Awareness Month, which runs during August.

Celebrities who have spoken about the impact of hair loss include Roz Purcell, Jada Pinkett-Smith and Paloma Faith.

The survey highlights the emotional toll and physical impact this issue continues to have.

One in five of those who suffer with the issue (21%) say their confidence has been significantly impacted.

When it comes to why women are experiencing changes in their hair, 60% report increased hair loss following a stressful time, while 44% say menopause or getting older has affected their hair.

Many are changing their daily routines, while 30% are using more styling products to create volume, 19% avoid certain hairstyles to conceal thinning and 18% have changed their hairstyle altogether.

Peter Mark said this all points to a need for greater awareness of treatment options and the value of a professional consultation on contributing factors and techniques to manage it.

The research shows a significant dissatisfaction with hair health among women in Ireland.