Recently, the topic of hair loss among those born in the 1990s has been hotly discussed on the Internet, reflecting the current situation. More and more people are suffering from hair loss. Whether it is men who are getting thinner on the top of their heads or women whose hair is falling all over the floor when they comb their hair, they can’t help but suffer from hair loss. I was thinking, why is hair loss so severe? Should I buy some anti-hair loss products?
Why do we lose hair?
Before we figure this out, let’s first understand the rules of hair growth and shedding. The human scalp has 100,000 to 150,000 hair follicles, which are present at birth. Each hair follicle can grow one hair. Hair follicle growth proceeds in a cyclical manner, including three stages:
Growth phase: lasts 2 to 6 years. The duration of this phase determines the length of the hair.
Catagen phase: lasts for 2 to 3 weeks. The lower part of the hair follicle shrinks and the hair stops growing.
Telogen: Lasting for 2 to 3 months, telogen hair is characterized by rod-shaped hair that is about to fall out from the hair follicles. At the end of the telogen phase, the hair shaft sheds and then enters the next hair growth cycle.
In a normal scalp, 80% to 90% of hair follicles are in the growth phase, 5% to 10% are in the resting phase, and 1% to 3% are in the catagen phase. As many as 100 hairs fall out of the scalp every day, and about the same number of hair follicles enter the anagen phase.
If less than 100 hairs are shed every day, it is normal physiological hair loss and is the normal metabolism of our hair. When it exceeds this range, the newly grown hair cannot equal the amount of hair lost, and the total amount of hair will be reduced. This may be pathological hair loss, which will cause us varying degrees of trouble. There are two main types of pathological hair loss:
androgenic alopecia
Androgenic alopecia (AGA) is the most common type of pathological hair loss. The mechanism is that hair follicles that are sensitive to androgens (mainly dihydrotestosterone) miniaturize under the action of hormones, shortening the growth period, causing normal hair to eventually grow. Replaced by short, fine vellus hair. This phenomenon has a strong genetic predisposition and can be influenced by both parents.
Alopecia areata
Another common type of pathological hair loss is “alopecia areata”, commonly known as ghost hair loss. When the body’s immune system becomes disordered and begins to attack scalp hair follicles, disrupting the normal growth cycle of hair, alopecia areata can occur, usually manifesting as single or multiple circular patchy areas of hair loss.
In addition to the above two common types, there are also different types of hair loss caused by many other reasons, including telogen effluvium, anagen hair loss caused by chemotherapy drugs, inflammatory diseases that damage hair follicles such as folliculitis, forehead fibrosing alopecia, etc. .
Is hair loss normal for those born in the 1990s?
The most common type of hair loss, androgenic alopecia, can begin as early as puberty.
A clinical study in the United States shows that about 16% of adolescent males aged 15-17 show signs of hair loss. Since then, the incidence of AGA has continued to rise with age. Among white men, 30% start losing hair before the age of 30, 50% lose hair before the age of 50, and up to 80% show varying degrees of hair loss before the age of 70.
The data for the Asian population are relatively optimistic. An epidemiological survey based on the population of 6 cities in my country shows that the prevalence of AGA in men in my country is 21.3%, and the prevalence of AGA in the 18-29 age group is 2.8%. age group rose to 13.3%.
Therefore, it is inevitable that the post-90s generation has begun to enter their thirties, and the problem of hair loss has gradually become more prominent.
Are women more prone to hair loss than men?
no.
As for the type of AGA, the incidence rate in women is much lower than that in men. Epidemiological data in my country show that the prevalence rate in women is 6.0%, which is less than 1/3 of men.
AGA, also known as “female pattern alopecia,” occurs in women and often manifests as thinning of hair on top, which progresses slowly with age but usually does not lead to complete baldness like in men. Female pattern hair loss can occur at any time from puberty onwards, but most occurs after menopause.
Therefore, generally speaking, women are relatively less likely to develop AGA. However, during certain special physiological periods, women may experience unique types of hair loss, such as postpartum telogen effluvium to be mentioned next.
Are women more likely to lose hair after giving birth?
Some mothers may have the experience of losing their hair very badly after giving birth. At this time, they often lament that pregnancy and childbirth made them age quickly, but this is not actually the cause of aging.
Affected by hormonal changes during pregnancy, the proportion of hair follicles in the anagen phase will increase, the hair will grow actively, and the hair will become thicker. After delivery, a large number of anagen hair follicles may suddenly and synchronously enter the resting phase. After 2 to 4 months, During the incubation period, significant diffuse hair loss occurs. The good news is that this kind of postpartum hair loss is transient, and mothers don’t have to worry. It usually recovers naturally within a year.
Are there any foods that can prevent hair loss?
No.
At present, no food has been proven to have the effect of preventing hair loss. The key factor that determines whether AGA occurs is genetics and has nothing to do with acquired diet.
In some rare cases, such as chronic iron deficiency anemia or excessive dieting, telogen effluvium may be induced. When telogen effluvium is diagnosed and triggers related to malnutrition are identified, it makes sense to resume a healthy diet, maintain nutritional balance, or target intensive supplementation with trace elements iron.
How much hair loss does it take to see a doctor?
Sudden hair loss (such as hair loss)
I looked in the mirror and noticed that my hairline was receding.
The hair on the top of the head can no longer completely cover the scalp
Ponytails are getting thinner and thinner
Daily hair loss exceeds 100 strands: Collect hair from pillows, combs, pools and shoulders every morning for 2 weeks to roughly estimate the daily hair loss.
Positive hair pulling test: If you do not wash your hair within 5 days, use your thumb and index finger to pinch a bunch of hair containing 50 to 60 hairs, slide it along the hair shaft to the hair tip with light force, count the number of hairs pulled out, and it will be more than 6 hairs. If it is positive, it means there is active hair loss; otherwise, it is negative. Patients with AGA are usually negative, but may be positive in active stages of alopecia areata, telogen effluvium, or anagen alopecia.
Can anti-hair loss shampoo improve hair loss?
cannot.
Currently, the only topical drug that is clearly effective in treating AGA is minoxidil, and no other. The “anti-hair loss effects” of major shampoo brands are just gimmicks and are not supported by reliable scientific evidence.
For example, the concept of caffeine shampoo to prevent hair loss is based on the potential anti-androgen effect of caffeine, but this argument still remains at the cellular level in the laboratory and cannot withstand clinical verification. As for ginger shampoo, which is popular among ordinary people, studies in recent years have shown that ginger extract 6-gingerol can significantly inhibit hair growth, reaching a conclusion that is contrary to the traditional concept of “ginger for hair growth”.
Some antifungal shampoos, shampoos containing 1% zinc pyrithione or 2.5% selenium disulfide (Selsun Gold) can indeed improve the dandruff (seborrheic dermatitis of the scalp) that often accompanies AGA, but they do not have the effect of preventing hair loss. .
If AGA has been diagnosed, then under professional guidance, just use whatever medicine is needed, and don’t rely on shampoo. Relying on shampoo to prevent and treat hair loss is our beautiful fantasy, but it does not exist in reality.
