The Psychosocial Consequences of Androgenetic Alopecia: A Review of the Research Literature

A study involving 168 men with alopecia androgenetica examined their psychological characteristics during a clinical trial of minoxidil gel. Overall, the men did not exhibit psychological dysfunction; rather, they showed a slightly better psychological state. However, many reported specific issues related to hair loss. Notably, men over 35 who experienced cosmetic improvement showed greater psychological benefits, such as reduced maladjustment and improved self-evaluation, compared to non-responders. Conversely, younger non-responders under 35 showed more psychological improvement than responders. These findings were explained using the theory of cognitive dissonance.

This exploratory study from 1988 examined the psychological characteristics of 85 healthy men with early-stage alopecia androgenetica participating in a double-blind clinical trial on the effects of topical minoxidil. The study found no evidence of psychosocial malfunctioning among the participants, who were generally less rigid and more self-confident compared to norm groups. However, over 30% of the subjects reported specific problems related to hair loss. The group treated with minoxidil experienced more psychological improvement concerning hair-related issues, social discomfort, and self-esteem than the placebo group. The study's findings were considered exploratory due to the retrospective nature of the pretest data.