[메디체크의 헬스UP]
These days, hair loss is common among young people of the MZ generation. This is not a story limited to the generally known male pattern baldness. It is also a concern for young women.
Alopecia refers to a condition in which there is no hair where hair should normally be. Generally, it is normal to lose an average of 50 to 60 hairs per day, but hair loss should be suspected if more than 100 are lost.
Hair does not have a physiological function directly related to life, but severe hair loss can cause problems in social life in these days, when youthful appearance is considered an important value compared to age. It can have a huge psychological impact, so let’s take a look at the causes and treatments.
A normal person has about 100,000 hairs on their head. They grow an average of 0.37mm per day and about 1cm per month. In general, 85-90% of the hair on the head is grown during the growth phase, and the number of hair follicles decreases with age.
Hair loss can be clinically divided into scarring alopecia accompanied by scarring and non-scarring alopecia in which only hair falls out. Scarring alopecia is a disease in which hair follicles are destroyed and do not grow back. Non-scarring alopecia is the loss of only hair, and we know male pattern baldness, alopecia areata, and seasonal hair loss.
The most common causes of male pattern baldness are heredity and male hormones. Testosterone, a male hormone, is converted into DHT (dihydrotestosterone) by 5a-reductase, and this DHT induces hair follicle changes. People who have baldness in their family, especially if both parents are bald, are very likely to pass it on to their offspring. These people lose their hair earlier than others.
In the case of Koreans, the frequency of baldness increases rapidly after the age of 40. At first, hair starts to fall out from the sides of the bangs and the top of the head from the late 20s. As the forehead widens, the hair loss increases. There are differences in degree depending on the individual, but usually the side hair and back hair remain. At first, thin and weak hair comes out in the area where the hair is lost, but eventually the hair disappears.
Baldness can occur in women too. Hair loss in women usually starts late, the crown of the head falls out, and the degree of hair loss is weaker than that in men. There are three treatments: oral administration of finasteride (product name, Propecia), which has been medically proven to be effective and safe, topical application of minoxidil, and hair transplant surgery.
Alopecia areata refers to the loss of hair in various sizes (round or oval) without subjective symptoms. It mainly occurs on the head, but rarely can appear on the beard, eyebrows or eyelashes. In severe cases, the entire head hair may fall out (alopecia totalis), or the entire body may fall out (alopecia universalis).
The cause of alopecia areata is not known with certainty. However, mental stress, autoimmunity, endocrine disorders, etc. are presumed to be causes or inducing factors. The prognosis of alopecia areata is worse when it occurs at a young age or when the hair loss area is large. Treatment includes topical application of steroid preparations and intralesional injection of minoxidil solution.
Seasonal alopecia is also caused by a temporary increase in male hormone secretion depending on the season. Male hormones interfere with the production of energy necessary for hair growth and development, making the hair roots in a state of energy deficiency. It inhibits the growth of hair, especially in the frontal and parietal regions. If your hair is greasy and has dandruff, it is important to wash your hair with lukewarm water every day to remove waste, fat and germs.
Common self-diagnosis methods for alopecia include lightly pulling hair and counting the amount of hair loss per day. If you hold about 8 to 10 hairs with your fingers and pull them lightly, it is normal if only 1 or 2 hairs fall out, but if more than 4 hairs fall out, it is likely to be alopecia. In addition, the normal amount of hair loss per day is about 50 to 60, but if more than 100 hairs fall out per day, there is a possibility of alopecia.
It is important to accurately diagnose alopecia and treat it accordingly. It is known that there is no special food that is good for preventing hair loss. Here are a few foods that might work:
First, black beans. Black beans are rich in cysteine and amino acids, essential ingredients for hair growth, which help hair grow. Unsaturated fatty acids and vitamin E components expand blood vessels to facilitate blood circulation and supply nutrients to the scalp to help prevent hair loss.
Second, vitamin E, which is abundant in nuts such as pine nuts and walnuts, is tocopherol. It clears blood vessels, helps blood circulation, tightens pores, and provides shine to hair. However, it is not recommended for people with seborrheic scalp.
Third, egg yolk is good because it is rich in high-quality protein and biotin, which belongs to the B group of vitamins.
Fourth, seaweeds such as seaweed, kelp, and seaweed are rich in vitamins A, E, D, iodine, dietary fiber, and minerals that regenerate damaged hair and the main component of hair, so they help prevent hair loss and maintain healthy hair. give. In particular, kelp has a lot of iodine, which helps thyroid activity, so it is good for hair loss caused by thyroid disease.
In general, alopecia is said to be associated with heart disease such as atherosclerosis. Therefore, it is good to avoid excessive consumption of animal fats. Scalp massage to improve blood flow to the scalp can be helpful, but not absolute. In order to prevent hair loss, you should avoid damaging your hair, such as frequent perm, dyeing, or bleaching, and use appropriate shampoo and conditioner, and rinse thoroughly with water.
If dandruff is severe or inflammation is severe due to seborrheic dermatitis, etc., it is good to see a dermatologist. As appearance is an important factor in social life, it is important to understand alopecia, which has a significant effect on appearance, reduce mental stress, consume high-quality protein, and do regular exercise that is good for blood circulation. Any help would be appreciated.
