Marion Just Survey Finds 1 In 3 Young Aussies Losing Their Locks Interview

Marion Just Survey Finds 1 In 3 Young Aussies Losing Their Locks Interview

Stress is taking a toll on the nation's locks, with a survey revealing almost seven in 10 Australians blame it for their hair loss.

About six in every 10 (55 per cent) respondents aged 35 and over reported some degree of hair loss, according to the study commissioned by évolis® , developer of the first scientifically proven over the counter hair loss treatment in Australia in 20 years.

It is not just the -oldies' who are suffering. One in three 18 to 24 year olds reported that they had already experienced hair loss.

While the majority of older Australians attributed their hair loss to aging, seven in 10 (67 per cent) said stress was a factor, with the young and women most affected.

Almost nine in 10 (88 per cent) 18 to 34 year olds, 73 per cent of all women and 63 per cent of men believed their hair loss was stress-related.

Mental health affected
In a double whammy for those suffering stress-related hair loss, the survey found losing their hair made almost three in 10 (29 per cent) people feel anxious and 22 per cent feel depressed. Those aged 18 to 34 were more likely to feel depressed about it than older sufferers.

Almost half (45 per cent) of all sufferers felt self-conscious, while one in three (33 per cent) said hair loss affected their confidence.

'The survey indicates many hair loss sufferers are trapped in a vicious circle where stress is perceived to result in hair loss – and the hair loss then causes further stress and the cycle continues," évolis® scientist Joseph Haklani said.

'Compounding the problem was the survey finding that most sufferers took no action to address their hair loss, when there are solutions, including natural alternatives like évolis®, that are readily available," he said.

Suffering in silence
While the majority of those surveyed had experienced some degree of hair loss, two in three (64 per cent) had done nothing to disguise their thinning hair, such as changing hairstyles or using styling products.

Less than half had sought advice from friends, family or professionals. Most of those who did seek advice approached a hairdresser (27 per cent), GP (19 per cent), or an online forum or website (17 per cent). The findings also highlighted a misconception that most treatments and products were for men only, with fewer options for women.

New science-based treatments
'There is no need to suffer in silence anymore. There are new, clinically proven treatments for men and women to address hair loss which may be caused by stress, aging or a number of other environmental and hormonal factors," Haklani said.

'évolis® tonics for men and women treat the most common types of hair loss by blocking the FGF5 protein that research shows is the key trigger for hairs to go from the growth to the resting phase and fall out sooner than they would otherwise. With évolis®, hair stays more strongly anchored to the scalp for longer, reducing hair thinning and restoring the natural hair growth cycle. Lifestyle changes including minimising stress, improving diet and starting a hair health regime can help too," he said.

Proven success: A personal story
Australian actress Paula Duncan knows a thing or two about hair loss. After strong medication she took during a 16-week hospital stay following a serious fall caused her hair to fall out, she found and used évolis® to reverse the loss.

'I was devastated when my hair fell out. Actresses find it hard enough to get roles as they age. When you add hair loss to the mix, it really knocks your confidence professionally and personally," Paula said.

'I learnt the important thing is not to wallow in despair or do nothing. You need to find out the cause, what is available and take steps to turn your problem around. When the évolis® tonics worked for me, I not only regained my hair, but my confidence and career."


Top Tips For Maintaining A Healthy Head Of Hair
Eat a well-balanced diet. Severe crash dieting can take away the necessary building blocks for healthy hair and can cause most of the hair in the growth phase to suddenly shift to the resting phase and this can lead to hair loss
Thinning hair is often fragile and more loosely attached to the scalp. So when it comes to styling, gentle is best
Avoid tight hairstyles such as ponytails and buns and heat styling routines using straighteners. If you need to blow dry your hair, use a cooler setting
Stay clear of hair extensions that are heavy and may pull, damage or break your hair. A regular, short trim can get rid of split ends that can keep breaking your hair
Make sure your brush doesn't scratch or scrape the scalp or pull hair excessively. Brush gently so if you come across knots, you don't pull your hair out
If no underlying health conditions then start a hair health regime with a natural clinically proven product like évolis® that is simple, quick and easy to incorporate into your daily routine
évolis® works by restoring a healthy hair cycle, leading to the appearance of longer, thicker and healthier locks

Interview with Joseph Haklani

Question: How does stress cause hair loss?

Joseph Haklani: Extreme physiological stresses, such as those brought upon by illness, medication, dietary changes or rapid weight loss, can have a negative impact on healthy body processes such as hair growth. The result can be poorer quality hair growth or hair loss. The type of hair loss is commonly telogen effluvium, where the extreme physiological stress can cause much of the growing hair follicles to go into a resting state and shed. Fortunately, In most cases this type of hair loss is temporary and can recover over time if the trigger for the physiological stress is removed.

The good news, there is a lack of evidence to support that short-term emotional stress is going to impact your body in such a way that makes your hair fall out. In fact the opposite is true, rather than emotional stress causing hair loss, it seems that hair loss is a great cause of emotional distress according to recent research. Hair loss is often progressive and can be an upsetting experience and this is most likely the reason that people associate hair loss so strongly with stress. However it is important not to completely rule our emotional stress as an associate to causes of hair loss as cases of prolonged or severe emotional stress can lead to physiological stress such as poor dieting or sleep deprivation.

Question: What type of 'hair loss" are 18 – 24 year olds experiencing?

Joseph Haklani: Androgenetic alopecia, or hereditary pattern hair loss, is the most common type of hair loss and can start as early as a person's teens and progresses with age. Other types of hair loss 18-24 year olds are experiencing include
Traction alopecia, a type of gradual hair loss caused by a strong consistent pulling force applied to the hair e.g. by a tight hair style
Telogen effluvium (premature resting hair) resulting from poor or crash dieting
Hair loss due to harsh chemical hair treatments which can cause damage to the scalp and poorer quality hair


Question: How much hair should a 18 – 24 year olds expect to lose, daily?

Joseph Haklani: It is normal to shed between 50 and 150 hairs each day. The number of hairs lost may fluctuate seasonally. If you consistently notice more than the above numbers in your hairbrush, the shower, on your clothes or pillow over time, you may be experiencing progressive hair loss. In men the clincher is a receding hair line around the temples and visible scalp around the crown of the head. For women the tell-tale sign is a wider gap at the parting of the hair.


Question: How does a balanced diet correlate with hair health?

Joseph Haklani: It's important to eat a well-balanced diet. Severe crash dieting can take away the necessary building blocks for healthy hair and can cause most of the hair in the growth phase to suddenly shift to the resting phase and this can lead to hair loss.


Question: What do hair loss patients need to rule out prior to trying évolis®?

Joseph Haklani: Hair loss is a complex issue that can result from one or more factors including age, genetics, diet, stress, medication, hormone imbalance or an underlying medical condition. A visit to the doctor can rule out medical causes such as vitamin deficiency, thyroid dysfunction or address any underlying issues. If the cause is not due to an underlying medical condition, starting a hair health routine can help.

Question: Can you talk us through how évolis® works?

Joseph Haklani: Évolis is a topical treatment and works on men and women in exactly the same way by inhibiting the FGF5 protein associated with hair loss. It is the first new clinically tested, topical technology to tackle the problem in 30 years. FGF5 is the primary trigger for hair to go from the growth to rest phase and eventually shed. The more it accumulates in the scalp, the more likely you will suffer from excessive hair loss. Since FGF5 has no other biological function, it represents a safe and effective target for hair loss .

Interview with Marion Just

Question: Can you talk us through your hair loss experience?

Marion Just: My hair has been falling out steadily, every four weeks for the past eight years or so, since I started tinting my hair regularly.


Question: How did hair loss change your demeanour?

Marion Just: A woman's hair is their crowning glory. I was concerned about strands falling everywhere, particularly in the kitchen, so I started to wear my hair up with combs to keep it from falling onto the ground. After using évolis, I now feel confident to wear my hair down around my shoulders without the worry of strands falling out.


Question: Can you talk about your success with évolis®?

Marion Just: I've been extremely happy with évolis, far more than any other hair product that I've used over the decades. The condition of my hair proves it. It feels thick and lovely and soft around my shoulders, particularly when I wake in the morning. I feel much more glamorous. My hair stylist has also noticed there is more moisture in my hair and it has better volume after using the products.

Interview with Maria Halasz

Question: Can you talk us through your hair loss experience?

Maria Halasz: I'd just turned forty and was a couple of years into my current job. Everything was going really well in my life but over some weeks I started to notice that my hairbrush was full of hair strands after showering. At first I wasn't worried as it is natural to lose some hair, but very soon I started to see thinning on my scalp. When I tried styling my hair in the morning I could see my scalp right through the top of my head and that was pretty disconcerting. I started to use a lot of styling products and hairspray to make my hair look thicker but nothing really helped.


Question: How did hair loss change your demeanour?

Maria Halasz: I was very distressed and ashamed. Also, I felt old. Healthy thick hair is associated with youth, and whilst I always had fine hair, I had a lot of it. Turning 40 and losing just one more sign of youth was upsetting. But the worst thing was that the hair loss was increasing and I panicked as I couldn't see the end of it. Every morning I spent more and more time trying to cover up with ever more styling products but nothing worked.


Question: Can you talk about your success with évolis®?

Maria Halasz: The products started to reduce my hair loss after eight weeks and I had new hair growth soon after that. It was fantastic – finally a product was working to give me thicker, healthier locks.


Question: You were so impressed with évolis®; you bought into the company, is that true?

Maria Halasz: Yes, that is true, although it wasn't that simple. After my hairdresser noticed the benefits on me, he wanted me to organise the product for other clients of his. It was impossible, as the Japanese company that owned the technology didn't have an English website, and the Japanese language website didn't allow for credit card purchases. I ended up negotiating a license with the company for Australia, set up an English website, but shipping was too complicated. This is when I went back to the Japanese and offered to buy the Company. It took us 18 months to complete the deal, but we finally owned this great product and could start making it available not just in Australia, but globally.


Interview by Brooke Hunter