By Dr. John Frank, M.D. – IAHRS, ABHRS,ISHRS, AHLA, XM Radio: ‘The Bald Truth’, NYC, October 27, 2010
How much of a role does appearance play in how we feel about ourselves? According to John W. Santrock, professor in the School of Behavior and Brain Sciences at the University of Texas, it plays a surprisingly large role.
In fact, for adolescents and young adults, Santrock found that the single largest factor affecting self-esteem was physical appearance.
Nathan C. Popkins, professor of psychology at Northwestern University says physical appearance can even affect the development of our personalities. This is because others form, for better or worse, opinions about us based on how we look. Those opinions in turn affect how we see ourselves1.
Hair Replacement can play a vital role in improving appearance and raising self esteem.
Our appearance can not only effect our personalities, it can even play a vital role in our mental and physical health – just ask Russell Gutch who founded “Wigs for Kids,” an organization that provides free wigs to children with cancer.
In 2004, doctors diagnosed 16 year old Marie Koudela with bone cancer. During chemotherapy treatment, she lost her ability to walk — but the toughest part of the treatment she said was losing her hair. “Wigs for Kids” made Marie feel more normal and she didn’t have to worry about her appearance:2.
‘There is a strong link between self-image and self-esteem and the ability to heal,’ says Wigs for Kids Executive Director Mark Campo. ‘Restoring that self-image can have a huge impact on a child.’
Russell Gutch isn’t the only one who appreciates just how devastating hair loss can be. Hair Dreams by Christal is a 501(c)(3) that helps to provides free hair replacement for people who lose their hair due to illness, cancer treatment or accidents.
The mission of Hair Dreams is to “increase self-esteem and self-confidence in individuals who suffer long term or medical related hair loss.”
So while our physical appearance isn’t the only factor affecting our sense of self-worth or quality of life (nor should it be), it’s clear that our appearance nevertheless can have a big effect on our feelings of self worth and, for better or worth, it definitely affects how others see us.
There are today many hair replacement techniques, and hair replacement can do wonders for your appearance which can significantly impact the quality of your life.
Good candidates for treatment must have full and healthy hair somewhere on the head to use as donor sites for other areas needing treatment.
© 2012, John Frank, M.D.
References
1. Natural Characteristics That Influence Environment: How Physical Appearance Affects Personality. Nathan C. Popkins, Northwestern University
2. Stylist works to change lives one wig at a time. Brendan McNally, The Daily Collegian, Penn State University, April 13, 2010
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