Hair loss 'attacks' young South Koreans.

In South Korea, 4 out of every 10 people seeking hair loss treatment are in their 20s or 30s, reflecting a trend of hair loss occurring at younger ages due to stress and modern lifestyles.

In South Korea, as many as 39,079 people in their 20s and 51,619 people in their 30s are experiencing hair loss and require treatment. - Photo: themonodist.com

Data released on October 8th by the Korea Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service (HIRA) shows that out of every 10 patients seeking treatment for hair loss in South Korea, 4 are in their 20s or 30s, reflecting a trend of hair loss occurring at younger ages due to stress, diet, and modern lifestyles.

According to the report, the number of patients receiving treatment for hair loss increased by 2.7% in four years, from 234,780 in 2020 to 241,217 in 2024. This figure only includes cases covered by health insurance, primarily alopecia areata, and excludes cases of genetic disorders or cosmetic treatments.

Notably, younger patients accounted for 37.6% of the total cases, with 39,079 people in their 20s and 51,619 in their 30s. The 40s and 50s age groups had 54,724 and 46,913 patients, respectively.

Experts believe that Westernized lifestyles, stress, smoking, lack of sleep, and extreme dieting are the main causes of increased hair loss in young people.

Professor Kwon Oh Sang of the dermatology department at Seoul National University Hospital stated, "Besides genetic factors and age, environmental causes such as smoking and obesity are increasingly impacting hair loss in young people."

The rate of hair loss among middle-aged women has also increased significantly, with women accounting for 37.2% in the 20-40 age group, but rising to 49.7% in the 50-year-old group and 60.2% in the 60-year-old group, mainly due to hormonal changes with age.

By type, alopecia areata accounted for 72% of the total cases, equivalent to 177,371 patients. Male pattern hair loss accounted for 25,776 cases, while other forms accounted for 31,395 cases.

Medical experts advise that hair loss is a natural "aging process" that needs to be addressed early. Losing 50-100 strands of hair per day is normal, but losing more than 100 is a sign of a medical condition. To prevent this, avoid smoking, alcohol, and lack of sleep, and maintain a healthy weight through regular exercise.

VNA

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/rung-toc-tan-cong-nguoi-tre-han-quoc-20251009211948303.htm