Recently, there has been growing public attention on hair health, with many people considering hair loss prevention as a top priority.

As autumn and winter set in, some individuals notice more hair shedding, whether during washing, combing, or even sleeping. This has caused widespread concern, with many fearing they are experiencing severe hair loss.

Physiological Hair Loss Requires No Excessive Worry

Zhou Cheng, a doctoral supervisor at Peking University and director of the Dermatology Department at Peking University People's Hospital, explains that each strand of hair undergoes its own "spring, summer, autumn, and winter," cycling through growth, regression, and resting phases. Normally, 50 to 100 hairs fall out daily, replaced by an equivalent amount of new growth. This is due to the cyclical nature of hair follicle activity and metabolic processes. Such physiological hair loss differs from pathological conditions like androgenic alopecia or alopecia areata and should not be a major cause for concern.

Liu Shulei, a doctoral supervisor specializing in dermatology and venereology at the Army Medical University, adds that hair shedding is a normal physiological process when more hair enters the resting phase. While many believe autumn exacerbates hair loss, this is simply because more hair happens to be in the resting phase during this season. Hair shedding typically improves as the seasons change.

However, certain types of hair loss warrant medical attention. Experts emphasize that if hair loss is accompanied by symptoms such as receding hairlines, thinning, or softening of hair strands, a visit to a healthcare provider is advisable.

Addressing Hair Loss Concerns Appropriately

According to the 2022 Urban Population Hair Health Consumption White Paper, 52% of individuals born after 2000 experience hair loss concerns, with 14% expressing worry as early as before the age of 20. Issues like scalp health and premature hair loss are becoming increasingly prominent, leading to a proliferation of anti-hair loss products and treatment options.

But is modern hair loss truly more severe, and is it occurring earlier compared to previous generations? Zhou Cheng notes that no large-scale epidemiological studies confirm these claims

Instead, the heightened focus on hair health and aggressive marketing by certain companies have exacerbated public anxiety.

“Some sellers of anti-hair loss products exaggerate the dangers of hair loss and the efficacy of their products, pushing consumers to make impulsive purchases,” Zhou remarks. He uses anti-hair loss shampoos as an example, explaining that while these products primarily clean and improve scalp health, their ability to promote hair regrowth is often overstated. Moreover, counterfeit or inferior products may even harm the scalp. Zhou advocates for stricter regulation of hair health products and advertisements.

Apart from purchasing anti-hair loss products, many young individuals are turning to hair transplants based on the so-called "aesthetics of hairline design" promoted online. Zhang Fan, a young lecturer at the First Clinical Medical College of Wenzhou Medical University, clarifies that hair transplants can be effective for individuals with androgenic alopecia. However, for conditions like alopecia areata caused by immune system disorders or frontal fibrosing alopecia linked to hormonal imbalances, the survival rate of transplanted hair is relatively low. Zhang advises the public to seek professional guidance and choose treatments tailored to their specific condition.