GYEONGGI-DO

Thinking of Getting a Hair Transplant?

Get an Accurate Diagnosis of the Scalp and Hair Conditions from the Medical Staff

 

There is a surge in the number of people with hair loss in winter due to seasonal and environmental factors

Hair loss may be treated at an early stage with drugs...Hair transplant may be a solution for those in middle or later stages of hair loss

Dr. Cho Hang Rae states, “Hair loss is a type of disease that needs medical treatment from dermatologist specialists”

  Dr. Cho Hang Rae

 

With winter approaching, more and more people are becoming concerned about hair loss. In winter, the scalp and hair become damaged faster due to seasonal factors such as dry weather and low temperature, and environmental factors such as fine dust and UV rays. Stress that comes from hair loss becomes a major cause of an unbalanced immune system, and may cause alopecia areata or seborrheic dermatitis of the scalp.

 

The number of people suffering from hair loss in Korea is continuously on the rise. According to the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service, approximately 234,780 people received medical treatment due to hair loss in 2020, which is the highest number yet. Major causes of hair loss are known to be genetic factors, unhealthy lifestyle, and stress. In particular, hair loss is starting to spread among the younger generations, as 44% of all those with hair loss are in their twenties and thirties.

 

Types of hair loss vary by age and gender, but the most common type is male pattern hair loss with a receding front hairline and loss of hair on the crown of the scalp. This type of hair loss is closely related to dihydrotestosterone (DHT). In winter, when there is less sunshine than in summer, the body temporarily produces more testosterone, also known as the male hormone. Testosterone is then converted to DHT by the 5-alpha reductase. However, if the body is genetically sensitive to the DHT, which is also directly responsible for producing hair, hair follicles shrink, preventing hair growth.

 

Hair loss is also a type of skin disease. When there are symptoms of hair loss, it is important to consult a dermatologist specialist to identify the exact symptoms and causes to go through treatment. Early-stage hair loss may be treated with drugs or injections, but those with mid- or later-stage hair loss may have to undergo hair transplants with or without incisions.

 

For hair transplants with incisions, hair follicles from the back of the head, an area that is genetically unlikely to lose hair, are transplanted to the areas of the head with hair loss. The transplanted hair roots will settle down in three to six months to grow new hair. Hair transplants without incisions involve round punches with a diameter of 0.8mm-1.2mm to directly remove hair follicles from the scalp.

 

The success of hair transplants depends on whether or not hair has settled down in the problem area where it has been transplanted. There are both clear advantages and disadvantages for each hair transplant, and so it is necessary to consult a doctor before a hair transplant procedure to learn which type best fits the individual scalp and hair conditions.

 

Dr. Cho Hang-rae from Ohkims Anti-Aging Esthetic Medicine Center stated, “Most people with hair loss turn to folk remedies or non-medical treatments at the early stage, but these methods are only effective in making the hair healthier and preventing hair loss. They are not fundamental solutions for hair loss.” He added, “Those with hair loss must first accept the fact that hair loss is also a disease. It is only possible to prevent further hair loss by consulting a dermatologist specialist to identify the exact cause and symptoms, and receive medical treatment that best fits each individual.”