As cases of hair loss among young women increase, interest in the causes and treatment methods is growing. In fact, according to the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service, 4 out of 10 patients who visited medical institutions for hair loss treatment were women. In particular, many young women experience hair loss at an early age due to excessive stress and irregular lifestyle habits.
Female hair loss has the clinical characteristic that the hair on the crown of the head becomes thinner and decreases in number. It occurs centered on the part line, and in the early stages, thin and weak fine hairs appear while the number of inner hairs gradually decreases.
One risk factor that promotes female hair loss is the reduced secretion of the female hormone (estrogen). Estrogen suppresses the function of the male hormone androgen, but when the body's hormonal balance is disrupted for some reason, it promotes hair loss. In addition, nutritional imbalance caused by mono-diets, extreme stress, and alcohol consumption are also cited as causes of female hair loss. Frequent perms and dyeing are also cited as causes that worsen hair health.
Experts emphasize that among these, extreme weight loss is the most detrimental factor. The matrix cells located in the hair follicle grow 1 to 3 hair roots, and at this time, key minerals, protein, essential fatty acids, and vitamin B are needed. If dietary intake is excessively restricted, the function of the hair follicle can decline due to nutritional imbalance. As a result, the hair becomes thinner and even the hair generation cycle shortens, leading to hair loss.
Also, when suffering from stress, the sympathetic nervous system remains in a state of excitement, disrupting the balance of the autonomic nervous system and further promoting the contraction of scalp muscles and blood vessels. In addition, as the stress hormone cortisol is secreted, nutrient supply and blood circulation to the scalp become difficult, which can reduce hair root growth.
Pregnancy and childbirth are also issues that aggravate hair loss in young women. Known as postpartum hair loss, it is usually characterized by the shedding of 30 to 40% of all hair during the 3 to 6 months after childbirth. After 6 months, hair loss gradually stops, and it recovers to a normal state as one year passes, but in rare cases, hair loss symptoms continue even after one year has passed. This is because the level of the female hormone estrogen decreases sharply after childbirth, causing postpartum telogen hair loss symptoms to occur over the long term.
For women who are sensitive about their appearance, the psychological shock accompanying hair loss can be very significant, and if hair loss symptoms persist, it becomes difficult to lead a normal daily life due to avoidance of social contact and depression. Moreover, some feel ashamed of the very reality that they are experiencing hair loss and resort to unverified folk remedies. Since this can be a cause of side effects that actually promote hair loss, it is advisable to visit a dermatology clinic and receive a precise diagnosis and customized treatment.
If hair loss is not severe, improvement can be expected through medication and laser treatment. However, if the condition has worsened somewhat, thread lifting using poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA) can be considered. It works on the principle of injecting threads made of 100% PLLA into the scalp to improve female-pattern hair loss.
Yoo Hwa-jeong, Director of Modi Hair Plant Clinic, said, "PLLA treatment is a method that injects 100% PLLA threads directly into the scalp to produce a local care effect," adding, "It is characterized by minimizing concerns about systemic side effects, having a long maintenance period, and lasting treatment effects for 1 to 2 years."
She added, "Above all, PLLA treatment works on the principle of promoting the scalp's microcirculation to give vitality to the hair follicles, and since it takes about 1 to 2 years to fully decompose, it can somewhat reduce the inconvenience of re-treatment."
Source: Segye Biz │ Published 2021.02.15