If you’ve done any research on the subject of hair loss online then you’ll likely have come across some of the hair loss forums and online communities out there…
These forums can provide an excellent place to share your thoughts and feelings with like minded people, they can also be very toxic environment. But why is this?
The first thing to understand about the hair loss community, is that just like any other online community, having a high degree of anonymity tends to make people a lot more forthright with their opinions than they would be in real life. This inevitably creates conflict from time to time but this is normal in any online community.
Another key part of why the hair loss community can appear negative is because the people who are actively participating often have a lot of emotional investment in the subject. If they’ve been taken a particular treatment that’s been working for them and somebody comes along and rubbishes it, then it can provoke a very hostile reaction.
When you combine this with the fact that people who are suffering from hair loss are often not in a great place emotionally then it’s easy to see why the hair loss community gets a bad reputation.
How to avoid scams and sensationalism
One of the biggest pitfalls for new hair loss sufferers is falling prey to scams and sensationalism. The best way to avoid this is by being informed on the subject. The two treatments that are currently available that have been scientifically proven to be effective are finasteride and minoxidil. Items such as laser combs and brushes as well as herbal treatments have not been scientifically proven to treat hair loss . Just being armed with this one piece of information alone with help you to avoid countless scams.
As for sensationalism, this is often focused on the subject of propecia side effects. This is a subject of huge debate online – some guys believe it’s a miracle cure with no adverse side effects whilst others think it shouldn’t be on the market at all. It’s always important to keep a balanced perspective when reading strong opinions online because essentially that’s all they are.