Hair loss(aka alopecia) once it begins, will keep you preoccupied regardless of age and gender. It is not a severe physical illness but can have a negative impact on your mental health due to stress. Here is everything from A to Z on how to hold onto your precious strand of hair including basic common sense, misinformation, and scalp management tips.

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Men's, women's, and circular hair loss are common around us. The main causes of male hair loss is known to be genetic factors and a male hormone called androgen. Female hair loss also has the same main cause, but varies in pattern. Men mostly have M-shaped hair loss across both sides of the head as hairline recedes across the top and back of the head and balding that is empty from the top of the head. Female hair loss is characterized by poor hair density at the top of the head and lesser hair overall. Circular hair loss is a type of autoimmune disease, where hair falls out in a circular or oval shape, making the scalp look like a white dot. In addition to hair on the head, any hair on the body can fall out and the affected area can gradually expand. Hair shedding(aka telogen effluvium) occurs temporarily after severe physical and mental stress such as endocrine disease, nutritional deficiency, childbirth, and surgery. When the cause is removed, the hair slowly recovers normally over a period of 6 to 12 months.

Hair loss types can also be divided into the presence or absence of scars. The more promising hair loss that can be treated is nonscarring hair loss without scars. Its active treatment can help the hair grow again because the hair follicles are not destroyed. On the other hand, scarring hair loss permanently damages the hair follicles, so hair that is once removed does not regenerate again. In this case, hair follicle transplantation is the only solution to treating this type of hair loss. 

How to Prevent Hair Loss?

1. Shampoo in the morning rather than in the evening

Hair follicles on the scalp are larger than anywhere else in the body and have developed sebaceous glands and sweat glands, which can easily cause inflammation. Scalp inflammation is a shortcut to hair loss, so it is important to clean up fine dust and wastes accumulated on the scalp after going out. Moreover, the main reason for shampooing in the evening is because the scalp is actively regenerated from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m.

2. NO to Chemical Surfactant! OK to Natural Origin!

It is a wrong information that surfactants are bad for the scalp and must be avoided at all times. Surfactant is one of the main ingredients of shampoos or cosmetics, which removes sebum and wastes accumulated on the scalp and skin. Therefore, it is recommended to find and use a "nature-derived" surfactant, not a chemical surfactant that strongly stimulates the scalp and promotes hair loss.

3. Wash your hair with lukewarm water

People losing hair have a lot of heat on their scalp, so they should avoid washing hair with hot water. It's the same for people who don't have hair loss. Hot water can stretch pores in the scalp, weakening the power to maintain hair, and even removes essential oil, making hair to become brittle. In severe cases, it can cause burns to the scalp and hair, so it is effective to wet the scalp enough with lukewarm water to open pores and gently massage it in to remove wastes.

Myths and Truths

1. If you wear a hat, hair loss gets worse?

It depends on the situation, but wearing a hat when your hair is not dry or sweaty can cause hair loss due to the fear of bacterial reproduction. However, wearing a hat is good for your scalp on days with strong UV rays.

2. If you shave your head, your hair will double?

There is a myth that hair grows more after shaving it. However, this is not true because there is no difference in the number of hair follicles. However, the thin hair may be cut and the thick hair from the scalp may grow to make you look like having more hair. 

3 Taking hair loss pills weakens sexual function?

It depends on the choice of what to put ahead. Hair loss medicine is also a medicine, so we cannot 100% guarantee that there are no side effects. If you are worried about side effects of hormonal hair loss drugs, then you can think about choosing from oral non-hormone-based medicines and hair loss solutions. 

4. Greasy and high-caloric foods cause hair loss?

Foods rich in cholesterol and neutral fat block blood flow to the scalp's capillaries, which can cause hair loss due to lack of nutrition in the hair roots. Sebum secretion also increases, which can lead to seborrheic hair loss. Instead of foods with a lot of animal oil, it is better to eat "black food" or nuts such as black beans, seaweed, and kelp, which help prevent hair loss.

5. If you tap your scalp with a brush, your hair will grow?

Although it is not a dramatic effect enough to increase the number of hair, it can stimulate the scalp to relax tense muscles and promote blood circulation to grow healthy hair. However, avoid using pointy brushes and tight tail combs as they can leave scars on the scalp.