Hair Loss In Medical Students: A Global Approach

Abstract

Across the globe, medical students recognize hair loss as a growing cause of concern; however, data exploring this issue is very limited. This study aims to explore the prevalence of hair loss amongst medical students as well as its common causes, treatments and management techniques. The influence of Covid-19 on hair loss was also examined. Using social media as a platform, an online survey was conducted which consisted of 20 questions. Responses from 1382 medical students were recorded, after receiving informed consent. It was interesting to note that more local medical students are experiencing hair loss (p=0.0001) as compared to students studying abroad (p=0). The results indicated that hair loss in males was a consequence of increasing age, whereas in females, stress was recognized as the major factor. A large number of participants experienced hair loss for more than a year. It is noteworthy that despite dealing with hair loss for a prolonged period, most medical students do not seek treatments for their hair loss. Majority of participants stated that their hair loss had a negative impact on their lives in terms of their overall self-esteem and frame of mind. It can be concluded that stress and various health conditions were the primary cause of hair loss in foreign medical students (p<0.0001) and local medical students (p=0.0001). This comprehensive experimental study reveals that a significant proportion of medical students around the world experience hair loss and effective methods should be placed in the future to prevent its growing incidence.