KOCHI: A comprehensive nationwide health study conducted by hair-care brand Traya Health has revealed that psychological stress, poor sleep hygiene, and metabolic imbalances among men in Kerala significantly surpass national averages, precipitating a sharp spike in premature hair loss, particularly among young adults. Analyzing data from over 500,000 male participants across India, the report highlights that the average age of men experiencing noticeable hair thinning has dropped to 29 years.
According to the findings, the prevalence of poor sleep quality in Kerala is 6.1% higher than the national average. Most alarmingly, 15.3% of young males aged 18 to 20 in the state suffer from severe hair loss—representing the highest rate across South India.
Medical experts explain that chronic psychological stress elevates cortisol levels, prematurely disrupting the hair growth cycle, while sleep deprivation impairs nocturnal cellular repair mechanisms. Furthermore, metabolic dysfunction prompts the body to restrict nutrient delivery to hair follicles, prioritizing vital internal organs instead. In Kerala, metabolic irregularities among the 18–20 age demographic reach an alarming 65.2%.
Despite early-onset symptoms, the study underscores a concerning delay in seeking medical intervention: only 15.6% of individuals consult specialists during Stage 1 (the initial phase of hair loss), while more than half (55.4%) seek help only after reaching advanced Stage 3 or later. Traya Health emphasizes that premature hair loss is driven primarily by internal physiological imbalances rather than genetics or climate alone, making early diagnosis and targeted clinical treatment in one’s early twenties vital.
