Hair loss is a condition in which hair falls out in a temporary or permanent form in areas where hair normally should exist. In the case of Koreans, there are about 100,000 hairs, and it is said that about 50 to 100 hairs are lost per day. However, abnormal hair loss is considered a common symptom of hair loss due to factors such as heredity, eating habits, stress, smoking, and excessive drinking habits. Hair loss is greatly influenced by genetic factors, but it is also affected by many other environmental factors. In particular, it is known that it is greatly affected by various lifestyles, so understanding and improving these areas is known to help slow the progress of rapidly progressing hair loss. Now, let’s take a look at some practical ways to prevent hair loss in our daily life. How to prevent hair loss
1. Keep your hair clean
In order to slow down and prevent hair loss, it is very important to keep the hair clean on a regular basis. It is recommended to wash your hair after finishing outdoor activities or in the evening after work because dust, sebum, and wastes accumulated in the hair can aggravate hair loss if the pores are clogged. When washing your hair, it is good to use a proper amount of shampoo to make enough foam and massage the hair, scalp, and roots evenly. When using shampoo, it is also a good way to use a shampoo for scalp care to remove oil from the scalp. Also, rinse thoroughly so that no shampoo residue remains on the scalp and hair. When washing your hair, it is recommended to wash your hair with lukewarm water as it can irritate the scalp and damage the scalp and cuticle layer, as well as disrupt the oil-water balance.
2. Dry your hair thoroughly
In addition to washing your hair thoroughly, drying your hair well after washing is an important management habit to prevent hair loss. As it is known that leaving wet hair on the scalp for a long time can cause hair loss by creating an environment that is good for bacteria to grow, it is recommended to remove enough moisture with a towel and dry thoroughly with a hair dryer. When using a hair dryer, it is recommended to set it to cool air as it is known that heating the wind to make the scalp drier and even damaging the hair. And it is desirable to keep the distance between the hair dryer and the hair about 30cm to dry.
3. Drinking plenty of water
Hair follicles involved in hair generation and growth are composed of a large amount of water, and they play a role in activating hair follicle cells through water. When the hair follicle lacks moisture, it becomes difficult for the hair follicle to function properly, weakening the hair root holding the hair, and at the same time making the hair thin and brittle. Drinking 1.5 to 2 liters of water every day can help prevent hair loss by improving blood circulation in the scalp and strengthening hair follicles. However, there are cases in which caffeine-rich coffee, beverages, or tea are consumed to provide hydration. Caffeinated beverages are known to induce a diuretic effect and decrease the amount of water in the body, so it is important to drink it in pure water form.
4. A balanced diet
Maintaining a balanced diet with a variety of nutrients also plays an important role in hair growth. In particular, legumes including black beans, seaweed such as seaweed, kelp, seaweed, black sesame, and vegetables are known to play an important role in preventing hair loss. This is because these foods are rich in protein, a major component of hair, and contain large amounts of vitamins B and E, unsaturated fatty acids, and polyphenols that are involved in hair growth. On the other hand, processed foods and oily foods with a high content of saturated fatty acids and high calories promote the production of lipid peroxide that clogs pores, so excessive intake should be reduced. In addition, it is recommended to maintain mealtimes at regular times because irregular eating habits do not provide a constant supply of nutrients.
5. Smoking and drinking alcohol control
Nicotine introduced into the body through smoking constricts blood vessels, impeding blood circulation in the scalp and reducing the amount of nutrients that should be normally supplied to the hair follicles. In addition, continuing the habit of drinking excessive amounts of alcohol increases the secretion of sebum in the hair root, making the hair thin and weak at the same time, which can cause hair loss to occur and speed up the progression. Studies have shown that 3 out of 10 people with hair loss both smoke and drink.
6. Stress Control
Excessive stress and mental tension dramatically increase the secretion of the hormone cortisol from the adrenal cortex. And under the influence of this increased cortisol, the capillaries constrict, which interferes with the supply of nutrients to the hair follicles. In addition, stress causes excessive production of free radicals and oxidizes hair nutrients, so it is important to implement management habits to relieve and control stress.
Other management methods
It is best to avoid direct sunlight because strong UV rays can damage the scalp and hair. Especially in summer, when UV rays are strong, use a hat or parasol to reduce the amount of UV rays applied to the hair. Also, hair is known to grow between 10:00 p.m. and 2:00 a.m., when cell regeneration is active, so it is recommended to get a good night’s sleep during this time. In addition, excessive frequency of dyeing and perming damages the hair and scalp, and also destroys the hair growth cycle, increasing the possibility of hair loss. Therefore, it is recommended to reduce the number of times too often and to be more careful when perming and dyeing.
