LOVE Island is back on our screens with many people lusting over the new contestants.
While you might think the show fuels a surge in people looking to get 'bikini body' ready, one surgeon said there is always an increase in requests for a particular treatment.
Dr Furqan Raja of Harley Street’s The Private Clinic said the majority of these enquiries are from men.
"Every year when Love Island is broadcast I receive a surge in enquiries from men wishing to address their hair loss.
"Most of the men that I hear from during this time have been exposed to Love Island either independently or through their partners watching.
"It often leads to them reflecting on their own body image, or more specifically, their hair," the expert said.
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The hair surgeon added that for years, the show has been criticised for only featuring contestants who are what many would deem stereotypically ‘aesthetically pleasing'.
Usually the men on the show have a strong head of hair, he added.
However, this is not representative of the whole population, he said.
"There are over 6.5 million male hair loss sufferers in the UK alone.
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"What’s more it is not just a problem that affects older men, with the average age of patient that I see for a hair transplant is 35.5 years.
"Hair thinning and loss is extremely commonplace and there remain many taboos around it which mean that it remains a complex subject to talk about, with many men feeling too embarrassed to do so," he said.
Dr Raja added that 'it's really bad' that Love Island doesn't include more contestants who are experiencing hair loss.
However the surge in enquiries he sees off the back of the show is a good thing, he said.
When it comes to what causes hair loss, it can be down to a range of factors, Dr Raja said.
Dr Raja’s top tips to reduce hair loss
While Love Island surges search for hair transplants, Dr Raja said there are a number of things you can do to encourage a head of healthy hair.
- Reduce booze: Whilst alcohol itself hasn’t been directly linked to hair loss it can lead to dehydration which can also dry out hair follicles. Over prolonged periods of time this can also raise the acid levels in your body and affect protein absorption, Dr Raja said.
- Learn to spot a non-typical cause: Looking to treat underlying condition could be key at preventing hair loss, Dr Raja said. This includes conditions like alopecia that stop the body from recognising its own hair follicles and attacks them.
- Take the right supplement: Health and nutrition is an important factor in healthy hair growth. Many of us are lacking in essential vitamins and minerals because we don’t get enough of them in our diet and so vitamin supplements can be a good way of ensuring you’re getting the necessary micronutrients that are essential for hair growth.
- Look at your diet: To ensure there’s enough Biotin within your diet try to include sweet potatoes, carrots, pumpkins, spinach and kale into your diet as they are all high in beta-carotene which is turned into vitamin A. You can get B-vitamins from many foods, including whole grains, almonds, meat, fish, seafood and dark, leafy greens. For vitamin D consume fish, seafood and egg yolks
- Reduce stress: Stress can have a significant impact on a patient’s overall health and in turn a person’s hair. Stress raises androgen levels which can be linked to hair loss. Stress can also give rise to a number of other issues such as scalp problems (i.e. dandruff) and change in eating habits which in turn can impact the hair.
Typically we lose between 50-100 hairs a day, with factors such as; genetics, hormone changes, medication and age all playing a role.
Lifestyle factors such as poor nutrition, stress and/or alcohol consumption can also be factors, he added.
Dr Raja said there has also been a surge in hair loss concerns since the coronavirus pandemic.
"I’ve certainly seen an increase in people enquiring about hair restoration treatment as a result of post-covid hair loss.
"Even if your hair loss isn’t a result of Covid, research suggests a hair loss rate of 40 per cent for men beginning at age 35 growing to a 70 per cent loss rate aged 80.
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"The majority of the population will warrant professional services to help them restore their hair at some point.
"The fact that the issue of hair loss is so far reaching emphasises the importance of breaking the taboos around it so that men don’t feel ashamed to not only discuss it, but also to seek support and treatment," he added.
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