Society's Knowledge About Physiological Causes of Hair Loss: A Cross-Sectional Study at The University of Basrah

• Zahraa Mahmoud Hussain Al-Hejaj

  Department of Basic Science, College of Nursing, University of Basrah, Basrah

Background: About 50% of men and nearly 50% of women experience hair loss, making it one of the most prevalent aesthetic issues in the world. This condition can have a detrimental impact on each person's quality of life and can result in circumstances that can cause psychological distress and demoralization.  It's critical to comprehend whether hair loss is a regular physiological process or whether it's an aberrant process brought on by issues with the scalp or its bulb, for example.  Since baldness, alopecia, and all forms of hair loss are always the consequence of multiple factors that contribute to their development, defining them is frequently difficult and reductive. Objectives: To assess the knowledge about the physiological reasons that lead to hair loss and find the relationship between knowledge and socio-demographic characteristics. Material and methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted from October 10, 2024, to January 15, 2025.  A random sample of 150 people from Basrah University participated in the study.  To gather information and evaluate knowledge, a questionnaire was employed. Results: Most of the university population is not sure that Cushing's syndrome does not cause hair loss (44.7%), most of the university population agree Hyperthyroidism causes hair loss (76.7%), most of the university population agree Vitamin D deficiency causes hair loss (89.3%), The majority of university students concur that there is a connection between ferritin insufficiency and hair loss (40.7%), while the majority of students concur that there is a connection between zinc deficiency and hair loss (71.3%). However, half of the students disagree.  The majority of university students believe that iron deficiency and hair loss are related (84.7%), that obesity causes hair loss (50%), and that heredity does not cause hair loss (76.7%).  Additionally, the majority of university students (70%) concur that there is a connection between vitamin A insufficiency and hair loss, and over half (55.3%) concur that there is a connection between biotin shortage and hair loss, more than half of college students (57.3%) concur that folic acid deficiency and hair loss are related. Conclusion: According to the results of this study, most university students are well-informed about hair loss.

Highlights:

1. air loss affects 50% of men and women, impacting quality of life.
2. Objectives: Assess knowledge on physiological causes of hair loss and socio-demographics.
3. Conclusion: Most university students are well-informed about hair loss causes.

Keywords: Society, Physiological, Hair loss, Vitamin D, knowledge

[1] A. N. Alhaqbani, "Level of Awareness and Impact of Using Multivitamins During COVID-19 Among Adults in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia," Alfaisal University (Saudi Arabia), 2024.

[2] E. H. Rahi, Z. M. H. Al-Hejaj, D. T. Al-Taie, and Z. A. A. Almusawi, "The relationship between T3, T4, TSH, and Vitamin D3 in obese women from a small population in Basrah City," Journal of Bioscience and Applied Research, vol. 10, pp. 120-126, 2024.

[3] D. Liu, Q. Xu, X. Meng, X. Liu, and J. Liu, "Status of research on the development and regeneration of hair follicles," International Journal of Medical Sciences, vol. 21, p. 80, 2024.

[4] N. Natarelli, N. Gahoonia, and R. K. Sivamani, "Integrative and mechanistic approach to the hair growth cycle and hair loss," Journal of clinical medicine, vol. 12, p. 893, 2023.

[5] M. G. Davis, M. P. Piliang, W. F. Bergfeld, T. L. Caterino, B. K. Fisher, J. P. Sacha, et al., "Scalp application of antioxidants improves scalp condition and reduces hair shedding in a 24‐week randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled clinical trial," International Journal of Cosmetic Science, vol. 43, pp. S14-S25, 2021.

[6] P. Verma, P. Maan, R. Gautam, and T. Arora, "Unveiling the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) diagnosis: A comprehensive review," Reproductive Sciences, vol. 31, pp. 2901-2915, 2024.

[7] E. Yousif Mohamed Albadawi, I. Abdulmajeed, S. Rahman, and K. El Tohami Medani, "Vitamin D Deficiency and Risk of Hair Loss: Knowledge and Practice of Adult Female Population in Saudi Arabia, 2020," 2021.

[8] A. Almudimeegh, A. H. Alajlan, A. I. Alrasheed, M. I. Alrasheed, A. K. Alqahtani, R. B. Idris, et al., "The impact, prevalence, and association of different forms of hair loss among individuals with anxiety disorder: Systematic review and meta-analysis," Medicine, vol. 104, p. e41457, 2025.

[9] A. Assiri, A. Rajhi, A. Sudi, A. Akoor, S. Juraybi, N. K. Mahzara, et al., "Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices Related to Vitamin D, Zinc, and Ferritin Deficiencies and the Associated Risk of Hair Loss in Jazan, Saudi Arabia," Cureus, vol. 15, 2023.

[10] M. Z. Aljulifi, T. Mubki, Z. M. Alaboody, A. N. Alamri, W. M. Altariqi, B. S. Alharbi, et al., "Knowledge, attitude, and practice of primary health physicians in Saudi Arabia in prescribing vitamins and minerals as treatment for hair loss," Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care, vol. 13, pp. 3960-3965, 2024.

[11] F. A. Jassim, A. M. Tiryag, and S. S. Issa, "Effect of bad habits on the growth of school students: A cross-sectional study," Indonesian Journal on Health Science and Medicine, vol. 1, pp. 10-21070, 2024.

[12] E. H. Rahi, Z. M. H. Al-Hejaj, and A. M. Tiryag, "Nurses' knowledge of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: A cross-sectional study," Academia Open, vol. 9, pp. 10.21070/acopen. 9.2024. 10306-10.21070/acopen. 9.2024. 10306, 2024.

[13] A. M. Tiryag, "Nurses’ Knowledge and Attitudes Toward Pacemaker: A Cross-Sectional Study," Academia Open, vol. 9, pp. 10.21070/acopen. 9.2024. 8845-10.21070/acopen. 9.2024. 8845, 2024.

[14] A. A. Alotaibi, W. A. Alsalhi, A. N. Almutiri, A. J. Alzahrani, A. S. Alsaab, M. A. Alhassan, et al., "Knowledge and practice of vitamin D deficiency and risk of hair loss among adult population in Majmaah city, Saudi Arabia," Int J Med Dev Ctries, vol. 3, pp. 1-6, 2019.

[15] Z. M. H. Al-Hejaj, R. M. Al-Amiri, and M. H. Jasim, "VISFATIN HORMONE CONCENTRATION IN DIABETIC OBESE WOMEN," Turkish Journal of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, vol. 32, p. 3.

[16] M. F. Hasan, W. F. Hussein, A. M. Tiryag, I. J. Ali, and Z. M. Shaker, "Nurses’ knowledge toward lower back pain: A cross-sectional study," Academia Open, vol. 9, pp. 10.21070/acopen. 9.2024. 10363-10.21070/acopen. 9.2024. 10363, 2024.

[17] T. Mubki, "Use of vitamins and minerals in the treatment of hair loss: a cross-sectional survey among dermatologists in Saudi Arabia," Journal of Cutaneous Medicine and Surgery, vol. 18, pp. 405-412, 2014.

[18] Z. M. H. Al-Hejaj, Al-Sudani, H. S. K. Rafeda, M. Al-Amiri, and M. H. Jasim, "Evaluation of Visfatin Hormone Level in Basrah Obese Women," Journal of Cardiovascular Disease Research, vol. 12, pp. 1789-1794, 2021.

[19] M. A. Mohammad, F. A. Jassim, and A. M. Tiryag, "Single-use flexible ureteroscope for the treatment of renal stone," Revista Latinoamericana de Hipertension, vol. 18, 2023.

[20] M. Mohammad, F. Jassim, and A. Tiryag, "Retrograde Intrarenal Lithotripsy Using Disposable Flexible Ureteroscope," Georgian Medical News, vol. 348, pp. 44-46, 2024.

[21] A. A. A. Al-Iedan, M. A. Akber, S. B. Dawood, A. I. H. Alobaidi, S. S. Issa, H. H. A. Raaoof, et al., "Bridging the gap: Enhancing open fracture care in emergency nursing," Academia Open, vol. 9, pp. 10.21070/acopen. 9.2024. 8847-10.21070/acopen. 9.2024. 8847, 2024.

[22] M. A. Akber, A. M. Tiryag, and A. Alobaidi, "Nurses’ knowledge concerning developmental dysplasia of the hip: A cross-sectional study," American Journal of Pediatric Medicine and Health Sciences, vol. 2, pp. 155-160, 2024.

[23] Z. M. H. Al-Hejaj, "Bridging the Knowledge Gap on Iron Deficiency Anemia Among Nursing Students," Academia Open, vol. 9, pp. 10.21070/acopen. 9.2024. 10283-10.21070/acopen. 9.2024. 10283, 2024.

[24] S. S. Hamid, A. F. Kareem, A. M. Tiryag, and H. H. Abdul-Ra’aoof, "A Study Regarding the Basic Anatomy and Physiology of the Eye among Nursing Students: A Cross-Sectional Study: Studi Mengenai Anatomi dan Fisiologi Dasar Mata di Kalangan Mahasiswa Keperawatan: Sebuah Studi Cross-Sectional," Indonesian Journal on Health Science and Medicine, vol. 2, 2025.

[25] M. A. Mohammad, H. H. Abdul-Ra’aoof, K. A. Razzaq Manahi, and A. M. Tiryag, "Parents’ Knowledge and Attitudes toward Testicular Torsion," Bahrain Medical Bulletin, vol. 46, 2024.

[26] M. Akber, A. Tiryag, and A. Alobaidi, "Nurses’ knowledge regarding cast complications of limb fractures: A cross-sectional study," Central Asian Journal of Medical and Natural Science, vol. 5, pp. 195-200, 2024.