Your Scalp Ages 6 Times Faster Than Your Face!
How to Anti-Age Your Scalp to Prevent Hair Loss?
As we age, we often notice signs like wrinkles, reduced skin elasticity, and other changes in our appearance. To keep looking youthful, many of us turn to high-end skincare products and cosmetic treatments. However, what we often overlook is the aging of our scalp and hair, which deserve just as much attention. Studies have shown that the scalp ages about six times faster than facial skin and around twelve times faster than the rest of the body. Unlike facial skin that benefits from sun protection, the scalp is constantly exposed to environmental factors like UV rays, accelerating its aging process.
It’s a common misconception that the scalp doesn’t need the same care as your face simply because it’s covered by hair. In reality, as the scalp ages, it loses its elasticity and starts to sag, leading to enlarged pores that trap dirt and sebum. This can cause inflammation, redness, and conditions like folliculitis. The scalp can also become dry, making hair thinner and more prone to breakage and loss. Aging further impacts blood flow to the scalp, reducing the activity of hair follicle cells and hindering new hair growth. Even more concerning is that the scalp and face are interconnected, so a lack of elasticity in the scalp can contribute to more pronounced wrinkles on the face.
According to a survey by the National Health Insurance Service, around 10 million people in Korea are estimated to experience hair loss, meaning one in five Koreans struggle with it. Among those affected, up to 50% of individuals in their teens, 20s, and 30s suffer from spot baldness, with 45% of them being women. This highlights that hair loss is no longer just a problem for older adults. Factors such as excessive stress, poor nutrition, irregular lifestyles, environmental changes, substance abuse, and family history all contribute to the growing hair loss crisis among young people.
If you notice five or more of the following signs, it could be an indication that you are experiencing hair loss.
Your forehead seems to be getting wider.
Your hair feels finer, softer, and weaker.
You’re losing more than 100 hairs a day.
Persistent scalp itching and dandruff last for more than 6 months.
You feel mild pain when pressing on your scalp.
There is a noticeable difference in the thickness of your bangs compared to the hair at the back of your head.
Body hair, including chest and facial hair, suddenly becomes thicker and longer.
Your scalp suddenly seems oilier than usual.
You frequently scratch your head out of habit.
When pulling about 100 hairs between your thumb and forefinger, more than 5 hairs come out.
① Managing Scalp Clean
Experts agree that the key to preventing hair loss is a clean scalp. Waste buildup on the scalp can cause inflammation and accelerate hair loss, so it is important to keep your scalp clean with a shampoo with anti-hair loss effects. It's especially important to wash your hair in the evening, because sleeping with a scalp covered in dirt, pollution, and oil throughout the day is like sleeping without washing your face.
Washing your hair in the evening removes the dirt, oil, and buildup that accumulate on your scalp and hair throughout the day. This helps keep your scalp clean and supports healthy hair growth.
A gentle scalp massage before shampooing stimulates the scalp, promoting healthy hair growth.
This helps lift and remove sebum and impurities, allowing the shampoo to lather better, which leads to a more effective cleanse and reduces scalp irritation.
Use your fingertips—not your nails—to gently distribute the shampoo across your scalp. Be careful not to rub too hard.
Make sure to rinse thoroughly to remove all shampoo residue, and follow with conditioner to nourish your hair.
② Upside-Down Brushing to Revitalize Your Scalp and Hair
Brushing can stimulate blood circulation to the scalp, which helps prevent hair loss. After gently detangling, tilt your head down and brush from the neck toward the forehead, around the ears, and across the crown of your head to remove dirt and dust. Avoid brushing when your hair is wet, as this can damage both your hair and scalp.
③ Avoid Smoking, Alcohol, and Stress
Smoking constricts blood vessels, reducing blood flow to the scalp, which can lead to hair loss. Frequent alcohol consumption can also cause hair loss due to the excessive sebum produced by acetaldehyde, a byproduct of alcohol metabolism. Stress impacts the autonomic nervous system, leading to poor circulation and muscle tension, both of which contribute to hair loss.
④ Protect from UV Rays
Since it's difficult to apply sunscreen to your scalp, wearing a hat or sunshade on sunny days is recommended to protect against harmful UV damage.
Just as plants need healthy soil to grow, your hair relies on the condition of your scalp. At the deepest part of the hair root are dermal papilla cells, which play a crucial role in regulating hair growth and maintenance. To prevent hair loss, it’s essential to keep these cells healthy, as they secrete growth factors like VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor), KGF (keratinocyte growth factor), HGF (hair growth factor), and collagen. These factors influence the strength, production, and thickness of your hair. Just like plants need nutrients to flourish, your scalp also requires proper nourishment.
