Two out of three men suffer from hair loss in UAE according to a hair loss incidence study

• Hair loss is among the top two physical concerns for UAE men - even before erectile dysfunction
• More than 5 out of 10 UAE men mentioned that hair loss leads to psychological and social issues
• Caffeine works to counteract the effect of testosterone and prevents hair loss

- Hair loss among men and women is a perennial problem all across the globe and all the 200+ nationalities who have made UAE their home share this issue. A recent Hair Loss Incidence Study conducted by YouGov on behalf of Alpecin Caffeine Shampoo in UAE inferred that almost 67% men and women in UAE suffer from hair loss.

The survey, for which more than 1,100 UAE men and women responded, brought up interesting insights on the incidence of hair loss problems. Almost every second man under the age of 30 in UAE suffer from hair loss in various proportions. The male respondents perceived hair loss among the top two physical concerns - even before erectile dysfunction - which indicates the extent of mental impact of this condition on men. “Hair loss can alter the way a man looks and makes him look older too. Men in UAE put strong emphasis on their physical appearance, and hair loss therefore causes great problems for most men in UAE,” underlines Dr. Hanieh Erdmann, German Board Certified Dermatologist and Hair Restoration Surgeon, located in Dubai.

More than 5 out of 10 UAE men mentioned hair loss leads to psychological and social issues

Frequently more men affected by hair loss also suffer psychosocially. “Self-doubt, difficulties in socializing and embarrassment are just some of the consequences of hair loss”, the physician added. Consistently, 56% of polled men mentioned that their social lives are impacted negatively, especially in the case of those men with acute hair loss problems. Furthermore, almost 35% of men suffer from various levels of depression/anxiety symptoms and are anxious to rectify this problem. Strikingly 55% of men affected by hair loss said, that they would be willing to shorten their lifespan to regain lost hair.

Testosterone weakens the hair roots

Dr. Hanieh Erdman explained, “The main reason of hair loss is caused by a genetic predisposition. Those men  affected by hereditary hair loss suffer from a super sensitivity of the hair roots to the hormone DHT, a metabolite of testosterone.” While testosterone does make beard hair grow, it also weakens the head hair’s root in correspondingly predisposed individuals. Although stress and lack of vitamins have been perceived as major causes of hair loss in the study, 41% men also know that testosterone can cause hair loss.

Caffeine works to counteract the effect of testosterone and prevents hair loss

However, it is heartening to know that hair loss can be treated. Caffeine has achieved wide scientific recognition as an active ingredient in reducing hair loss. “Due to caffeine, the hair roots receive the necessary energy for growth despite the testosterone attack”, German scientist Dr. Adolf Klenk, Head of R&D at Dr. Kurt Wolff explained. However, the survey also shows that only 3% of the polled respondents know this prominent effect of caffeine. “Using the caffeine shampoo from an early age will help keep the hair roots active. It is therefore vital to act when mild hair loss is noticed or if one is prone to the issue genetically. Nevertheless, it is important to know that caffeine does not aid in growing new hair on a bald scalp”, explained Dr. Adolf Klenk.