What Are Peladophobia and Phalacrophobia?

In medicine, many fears and phobias have been identified and described, ranging from the most well-known, like fear of spiders, enclosed spaces, or flying, to the more unusual ones, such as chromophobia or frigophobia, which are the fears of bright colors and cold temperatures, respectively.

Although the words "fear" and "phobia" are often used interchangeably, they don't mean exactly the same thing. The sensation of fear is likely something we all recognize. Biologically, fear is one of the most basic emotions felt by higher animals, including humans. It plays a crucial role in survival, as it signals us to flee and hide at the first sign of danger, helping us preserve our existence. In this way, each individual contributes to the survival of their genetic line and species. Fear lasts as long as danger is near, making it a rational emotion. We experience different levels of fear, ranging from mild fright that lasts a few moments to more intense forms that lack a clear basis and can become irrational. Such intense fears are known as phobias.

Phobias are fairly common among people, but it's important to distinguish between strong fear, which children often feel, for instance, around doctors or animals and which fades over time, and phobias, which persist without professional help.

Phobias can be identified through a variety of mental and physical symptoms. Affected individuals may feel extreme anxiety, a sense of impending doom, dizziness, or even fainting, experience panic attacks, rapid heart rate, excessive sweating, dry mouth, difficulty speaking, uncontrollable shaking, and more. Not all symptoms appear for every person, but they often experience at least a few that they cannot control, unlike a strong fear. Symptoms typically emerge when someone encounters their fear's source or even thinks about it, such as being in a confined space, seeing a spider, or flying. Phobias often have roots in childhood or past negative experiences. Those affected try to avoid the source of their phobia, which can make life significantly more challenging. The only effective solution is to seek professional help. Though mild cases can sometimes be managed alone in early stages, when one can control their reactions during an episode, seeking medical help is essential when control is lost. Untreated phobias can be dangerous, as in cases of fear of heights, where one might lose consciousness and fall. It should be noted, however, that treatment success isn’t guaranteed. There are medications that alleviate phobia symptoms, though they come with side effects and don’t resolve the underlying issue.

As mentioned, many phobias have been identified and described. Two of these are peladophobia and phalacrophobia (the Slovenian equivalents would be peladofobija and palakrofobija, though these terms are not widely used). Peladophobia is the fear of bald people, while phalacrophobia is the fear of becoming bald oneself. Like all other phobias, these fears are irrational, inexplicable, and uncontrollable. They are often triggered by a traumatic experience, such as witnessing a robbery where the robber was bald. In rare cases, they can be congenital. These phobias, like others, can only be treated with professional help, either through psychotherapy or, in severe cases, medical or psychiatric intervention.