One quarter of balding men suffer from stress as a result, a survey has shown.
More than 40 per cent of Hong Kong men aged 25 to 54 are suffering from hair loss, according to a poll by the University of Hong Kong's Social Sciences Research Centre commissioned by a pharmaceutical company.
Three-quarters of the 420 men surveyed expressed concern about their receding hair.
'Male pattern hair loss may affect one's image and social life, hence affecting one's quality of life,' said dermatologist Dr Wong Sai-siong, of the Evangel Hospital.
'In a society like Hong Kong, in which people care a lot about appearance and image, the pressure is understandable.' Most of the men surveyed said they felt 'negative social perceptions' about their appearance. Thirteen per cent felt it hindered their career prospects.
Only one in six had sought any treatment for the condition.