Could I Be Losing My Hair Too? What Are the Criteria for Hair Loss Symptoms?

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YTN Radio (FM 94.5) [YTN News FM, Smart Radio Life]

□ Broadcast date and time: Friday, August 21, 2020

□ Host: Announcer Choi Hyeong-jin

□ Guest: Im I-seok, Director of Im I-seok Theme Dermatology Clinic (President of the Korean Society for Hair Loss Treatment)

• If more than 100 hairs fall out in a day, the hair becomes thinner, or much more hair than usual falls out, you should suspect hair loss

• For men, place four finger widths above the eyebrows; if the hairline is not covered, hair loss should be suspected

• Anti-hair-loss shampoos do not have hair-growth effects, but they contain fewer ingredients such as surfactants that are bad for the scalp

• Alopecia areata is an autoimmune disease, so it needs treatment

• In summer, protecting scalp health by blocking UV rays with a hat or parasol is important

• The text below may differ from the actual broadcast content, so please check the broadcast for more accurate information.

◇ Choi Hyeong-jin, announcer (hereafter Choi Hyeong-jin): In the second part of Smart Radio Life, we solve various everyday questions together with experts in different fields every day. As the rainy season ended, a heat wave arrived with the scorching sun beating down. When the sunlight is so strong, we carefully apply sunscreen to prevent skin damage. But there is one part of the body that receives more ultraviolet rays than any other and is not properly protected: the scalp. In addition to ultraviolet rays, summer weather can also have a bad effect on hair loss. Today, we will look into this in detail. Let us welcome our guest. We are joined by Im I-seok, director of Im I-seok Theme Dermatology Clinic and president of the Korean Society for Hair Loss Treatment. Hello?

◆ Im I-seok, Director of Im I-seok Theme Dermatology Clinic (hereafter Im I-seok): Yes, hello.

◇ Choi Hyeong-jin: It feels awkward to ask this right away after inviting you, but there is something I really wanted to ask. I wash my hair twice a day. Is it better to wash it at night or in the morning?

◆ Im I-seok: There is no fixed rule. If you sweat a lot, or if you were out during the day and have a lot of waste matter or fine dust on your scalp, it is better to wash it in the evening. Some people sweat a lot while sleeping, or secrete more sebum. For those people, washing in the morning is fine. So there is no set rule. Some say you should wash at night, others say in the morning, but there is no fixed rule. You can do it according to your own condition, and the same goes for frequency. Some people say you should only wash once a day, or once every two days, but that is not fixed either. People with dry scalp do not need to wash often, but if sebum production is high and a lot of residue builds up, washing two or three times a day is not a problem. It is very important to do it according to the condition of the scalp and hair.

◇ Choi Hyeong-jin: I use a lot of products on my hair, so I wash it three or four times a day. But frequency is not important?

◆ Im I-seok: Yes, frequency is not important. What matters is avoiding harsh washing methods or scratching with your nails, and making sure to rinse thoroughly so that shampoo and conditioner do not remain. If ingredients are left behind, they can damage the scalp or hair, so if you use them, it is better to rinse them off cleanly.

◇ Choi Hyeong-jin: I see. I have a lot of personal questions these days because my hair is falling out a lot. Some people wash their hair like this with stones. Is that bad?

◆ Im I-seok: Yes, it is bad. Some people wash it with stones, and some even use very sharp combs. But that causes damage to the hair itself. So just do it gently. Even when using your hands, do not use your nails; it is important to do it softly with the skin of your fingertips.

◇ Choi Hyeong-jin: There are times when it is hard to tell whether you have hair loss or not. Some people wonder how much hair has to fall out before it counts as hair loss. Is there a 기준 for when it is hair loss?

◆ Im I-seok: People usually say if 80 or 100 hairs fall out, it is hair loss. That can be true, but the most important thing is when hair was not falling out and then suddenly the number increases. And suddenly the hair becomes thinner. Then you should first suspect hair loss. Generally, if it is under 80 hairs, but goes over 100, you should suspect hair loss. If it is falling out more than usual, you should suspect it. Usually, you can count the hairs lost while washing, the hairs found on the pillow, and the hairs that fall out while drying, then add them up over three days and divide by three. That way, you can count how many hairs fall out per day. Another method is for men: if you place four finger widths above the eyebrows, the hairline is usually covered. But some people are not covered. Then you can suspect that the hairline has moved upward a little. Also, if you pull on about twenty hairs, normally they do not come out easily. At most, maybe one. But if three, four, or five hairs come out, you should suspect hair loss first.

◇ Choi Hyeong-jin: I see. In the past, when people thought of hair loss, they mostly imagined middle-aged men. And there were also stories that only men had genetic hair loss. But these days, even among the people around me, many women worry about hair loss. Is the idea that only men are affected by genetics wrong?

◆ Im I-seok: It is very wrong. Women can have hair loss too. In men, hereditary hair loss usually happens when hormones change into hormones that cause hair loss. In women, there is less male hormone, so the amount of hair loss may be smaller. Also, there is an enzyme that prevents the hairline from being affected. Because of these factors, women usually do not become completely bald, but if you look, the scalp becomes sparse, the hair becomes thinner and collapses, and eventually a lot of the scalp becomes visible. Then you should consider that hair loss is progressing. Women can also have hereditary hair loss. These days, when I see patients, there are not only men but also a great many women, often about one-to-one. In some cases, there are even more women.

◇ Choi Hyeong-jin: I see. There are many women these days. It is common. Then I am curious whether hair loss types differ depending on the cause. When we talk about hair loss, there is the M-shaped type, alopecia areata, and various other types. Do the types of hair loss differ depending on the cause?

◆ Im I-seok: They do. For example, there is male-pattern hair loss, which is hereditary in men. Women also have female-pattern hair loss. Then there is alopecia areata, which usually occurs a lot when people are stressed, but in fact it is an autoimmune disease. Instead of our body attacking something that comes from outside, it attacks our own hair follicles, causing the hair to fall out. That is also related to stress. There is alopecia areata caused by autoimmune disease. There is also traction alopecia, which happens when children, for example, twist and tug at their hair while studying because they are stressed, or even adults who keep pulling at their hair while working. There is also telogen effluvium, which can happen when there is an illness in the body or after childbirth or surgery if it becomes stressful. There are many different types of hair loss.

◇ Choi Hyeong-jin: I am also curious about the effects of weather. People often say that during seasonal transitions they seem to lose a lot of hair. And in summer, they say the hair weakens because of all the sunlight. Does seasonal change affect scalp health or hair loss?

◆ Im I-seok: It can. Usually, when you are exposed to a lot of sunlight, your skin ages faster. Hair is also actually damaged. Hair gets damaged, and the scalp gets damaged too, so people who already have hair loss should avoid too much ultraviolet exposure. In those cases, it is good to wear a hat or use a parasol. Some people worry that wearing a hat will make hair loss worse. But in fact, wearing a hat briefly does not cause hair loss. You just need to take it off often so there is ventilation. Hats these days are also made well, so air circulates well. Wearing a hat to block ultraviolet rays is very important.

◇ Choi Hyeong-jin: We should wear hats and protect the scalp with something like a parasol. But since you cannot really apply sunscreen directly to the scalp, is the best method to cover it with a hat or parasol?

◆ Im I-seok: Of course, these days there are some products with sunscreen ingredients made for the scalp. But rather than using those, the simple things you can do now are wearing a hat or using a parasol. That is very important.

◇ Choi Hyeong-jin: The way to protect scalp health in summer is to block ultraviolet rays with a hat or parasol. Please take good care of your scalp health. We will now begin taking questions. We are already receiving many questions. There are many people worried about hair loss. Let us start the consultation. One person asked via the app, “Is there any special care method that is good for hair loss management? For example, not using conditioner often, or washing only once a day in the morning or evening. Is there any special method that helps?”

◆ Im I-seok: First, as I mentioned briefly earlier, when washing your hair, it is better not to leave shampoo or conditioner behind. Also, in the case of women, they often get perms or dye their hair. But it is better to avoid doing those too often. It is best to avoid doing them on the same day if possible. In fact, dyeing and perms change the hair. Dyeing changes the hair so that color can be put inside, and perms change the protein structure to create the wavy shape. Doing that too often is not good, so avoid it. When drying your hair, it is better to dry it with natural air rather than with very hot heat. Also, sleeping right away with wet hair is not good, so dry your hair before going to bed. And as I said earlier, avoid too much ultraviolet exposure. There are many hair products these days. But what you should be careful about is that there are so many shampoos, conditioners, and products on social media claiming that they can make even hair that did not exist before grow. In fact, they will not make hair grow where there was none. But using them can help to some extent, such as reducing hair loss a little. They are not like medicines that completely prevent hair loss, and they do not damage the hair, so think of them as better than products that cause damage. Using such products together may help to some extent. But I do not think you should trust them too much.

◇ Choi Hyeong-jin: Relatedly, most people in their mid-30s and older usually use anti-hair-loss shampoo. We also received this text message: “I have been using hair-loss shampoo for 10 years. How much help does it provide?”

◆ Im I-seok: It is not bad. But using it does not make hair grow where there was none. In shampoos, for example, there are surfactants and many ingredients that are not good for the scalp. Those harmful ingredients are probably included in smaller amounts. Some of those ingredients may also help hair growth. So it is better than not using it. But if you completely trust it and think, “My hair is falling out, but if I use this, it will not fall out,” and then miss the window for treatment, hair loss will not grow back if it is not treated early. It is better to avoid that.

◇ Choi Hyeong-jin: I see. Earlier, you said wearing a hat for a short time does not cause hair loss, but I know people around me who wear hats all day. What about that?

◆ Im I-seok: In those cases, it is good to let the hat air out occasionally. It is better to take it off from time to time. If someone sweats a lot, for example, it is good to wash their hair once in between as well, and do not keep wearing the same hat all the time. It is good to have several hats and rotate them. There can be germs inside the hat itself, and there can be sweat and waste matter on it, so it is better to change them often.

◇ Choi Hyeong-jin: Do waste substances affect hair loss?

◆ Im I-seok: It can cause inflammation. In the past, people said that if you had dermatitis such as seborrheic dermatitis, it was unrelated to hair loss. But even with seborrheic dermatitis, hair loss can progress. So, first of all, it is better to keep the scalp healthy, and I think it would be good to change hats often and use them.

◇ Choi Hyeong-jin: We received this text message: “At hair salons, they say the scalp is in bad condition and recommend scaling or spa treatments. Do they work?”

◆ Im I-seok: It is not necessarily bad, but it is better to know the exact condition of the scalp first. In my case, I would have you come to the hospital and check the condition. If the scalp or hair is already in very bad condition and then you do a刺激ing treatment like scaling, the stimulation itself can damage the hair roots. So after getting an accurate diagnosis of the scalp condition, receiving it is fine. But if there is a disease, it is better to avoid it. If the scalp is normal, then what is done at a beauty salon is not a major problem.

◇ Choi Hyeong-jin: Can a beauty salon make an accurate diagnosis?

◆ Im I-seok: They do have some knowledge, but not as much as a doctor. So if there is something wrong with the scalp or if you have hair-loss symptoms, I think it is best to go to a dermatologist first, get diagnosed, and then decide what to do.

◇ Choi Hyeong-jin: Understood. “My scalp has been breaking out with a huge number of pimples since a while ago. My scalp hurts and sometimes stings. I wonder if it is because I sweat a lot or because of hormones, and I am also wondering what I should do in this case.”

◆ Im I-seok: This person currently has inflammation on the scalp. It could be seborrheic dermatitis, which we talked about earlier, or folliculitis. Many people also have very sensitive scalps. If you look closely, some people have enlarged blood vessels, very thin scalps, or a lot of scaling. Those people should first receive treatment at a hospital. As I said earlier, salon care is fine, but it is okay to receive it after normalizing the scalp first. Scalp care is good in general. Rather than leaving the scalp and hair alone, it is good to go to a salon from time to time to keep them clean, but it should be done depending on the condition. I think this person should get a prescription from a hospital for a topical medicine and shampoo, and use those.

◇ Choi Hyeong-jin: You do not seem to be in very good condition right now, but if you go to the hospital quickly, it is something that can be resolved soon, right?

◆ Im I-seok: Of course, it will not become completely better after just one treatment, but the important thing is to keep it normalized, so I think you can watch it over time.

◇ Choi Hyeong-jin: That is right. The questions we are asking now are prepared as a hair-loss fact check. “There is a saying that facial soap is better than shampoo. Which one is better?”

◆ Im I-seok: Shampoo is better. That is because soap is highly alkaline. Some people use laundry soap. That is really strongly alkaline. In such cases, the hair and hair roots are damaged. So, shampoo. It is the same with any product. When we apply products to the skin, some people say that even adults should use products for children because they are better, but those have a lot of oil and are not good. Likewise, it is better to use products made for the scalp on the scalp and products made for the face on the face. It is better to use them according to their intended purpose. Because even cleansing differs in various ways depending on scalp and hair condition. It is much better to use products that match that.

◇ Choi Hyeong-jin: Here is the second fact-check question. “What about rice water?”

◆ Im I-seok: Rice water is not bad, but I do not think there is any particular reason to use it. In the past, people said the ingredients in rice water were good for the skin too, but in fact you would still need to wash it off cleanly, and there could also be pesticide residue. So I think it would be much better to use commercially produced products rather than rice water.

◇ Choi Hyeong-jin: So using products sold as products is the right answer. “There are people who say there are medicines that make hair grow, and they go far away to get expensive prescriptions. How much should we trust that?”

◆ Im I-seok: There are of course various medicines that help hair grow, but you should not trust them too much. The medicine used differs depending on the patient’s condition and the scalp condition. There are several that are FDA-approved. But even those must be used according to the patient’s condition. So do not just believe that because someone else used it and it was good, or someone else used it and their white hair turned black and their hair suddenly became fuller. Do not believe all of that. If you think such a product really exists, you can go to a dermatologist and ask, “There is this product; can I use it?” If it is good, the doctor will probably tell you to use it. If it is harmful, they will tell you not to use it.

◇ Choi Hyeong-jin: It is better to check before using it. It could make things worse.

◆ Im I-seok: That is right.

◇ Choi Hyeong-jin: We received this text message: “If the scalp is red and warm, people say hair loss is coming. What should we do about it?”

◆ Im I-seok: First of all, such people may have seborrheic dermatitis, which we mentioned earlier, or they may have a sensitive scalp. These people should use very mild shampoos. You should not use anything irritating. Some people like shampoos because they have a refreshing feeling, but for these people, using them actually becomes more irritating. So rather than just focusing on cleanliness, it is better to use shampoos or similar products that can normalize the scalp. If you go to the hospital, there are medicines that can help restore the scalp condition. I think it would be good to get help from those.

◇ Choi Hyeong-jin: We received this text message: “My son in his 20s is taking hair-loss medicine. It was prescribed at a hospital. Are there side effects on the body?”

◆ Im I-seok: If hair-loss medicine works well, there is not a major problem, but there can be side effects. Because if a woman of childbearing age takes hair-loss medicine and gives birth, the baby may have congenital abnormalities. So women of childbearing age should not come into contact with it. Also, after taking that medicine, men may have side effects such as slightly enlarged breasts, and there may be a feeling similar to erectile dysfunction, but it is not severe and can be managed. So even when using such medicine, I think it is best to listen to the doctor’s explanation at the hospital and use it.

◇ Choi Hyeong-jin: There was so much interest in today’s hair-loss topic. We will invite you again next time, Director. That is all for today. Thank you.

◆ Im I-seok: Yes.

◇ Choi Hyeong-jin: That was Im I-seok, director of Im I-seok Theme Dermatology Clinic.

Article source: YTN

Date written: 2020.08.21