In this article, we summarize the causes of "thinning hair even though you are young" and how to prevent and take measures.

The reason why you have thinning hair at a young age is also related to genetic factors, but there is no denying the influence of your lifestyle. Your lifestyle may be accelerating thinning hair and hair loss.

Let's know the cause of thinning hair and take appropriate measures to prevent it.

What is juvenile alopecia?

A phenomenon in which men's hair becomes thinner year by year.
Most of them are "male pattern baldness" and are also called "AGA".

In particular, the symptoms of male pattern baldness that occur in young people in their teens and 10s are called "juvenile alopecia". It is a symptom that begins to occur in teenage males such as high school students as early as the beginning.

Juvenile alopecia has been on the rise in recent years. There are three types of progression.

According to the 2010 edition of the Male Pattern Baldness Treatment Guidelines, the incidence of male pattern baldness in Japan is about 20% in the 10s, 30% in the 20s, and increases with age thereafter. The fact is that 10 in 1 young people are suffering from thinning hair.

The symptoms can manifest in different ways.
・ "M-shaped" that recedes from the hairline of the forehead ・ "Tsumuji-shaped" that gradually thins from near the top of the head ・

"U-shaped" that gradually recedes the forehead There
are so on.

Recently, with the westernization of eating habits, the number of young people who prefer to eat greasy meals has increased. Since the entertainment of the world, such as smartphones and video content, easily affects our daily lives, it is easy for lifestyle disturbances to occur.

Furthermore, it is said that various factors such as mental and psychological stress in an advanced society have led to the deterioration of the scalp environment, which is a factor in the increase in juvenile alopecia.

The mechanism by which hair grows and falls out

Before learning about hair loss, let's briefly touch on the mechanism of hair growth. Not only hair, but also body hair has a cycle from growing hair to falling out naturally, and this is called the "hair cycle". The period varies depending on the part of the body, but in the case of hair on the head, it is from 2 to 6 years.

Hair growth cycle

The hair cycle has periods of "growth phase, regression phase, and telogen phase", and because these cycles come and go stably, the length, volume, and thickness of the hair are maintained.

In the case of alopecia and AGA, the hair cycle cycle during the anagen phase is disrupted, and the period of the anagen phase is shortened.

Normally, during the growth phase, the hair grows into thick and firm hair, but in alopecia, it enters the regression phase before it grows completely, so it enters the telogen phase and falls out while remaining in a thin and soft state.

As a result, the hair itself becomes thinner and shorter, and it falls out faster, so thinning hair is noticeable.

Causes of juvenile alopecia (AGA)

There are various causes of thinning hair and hair loss, but the two major factors are "genetics" and "hormones".
Let's dig into the actual factors.

The male hormone dihydrotestosterone (DHT) causes AGA

If you've done any research on AGA or alopecia, you've probably heard of this hormone.

Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) is originally a male hormone called testosterone.

DHT binds to the receptors of the dermal papilla in the hair matrix cells that produce hair, preventing normal hair growth and disrupting the hair growth cycle.

Testosterone is a hormone that is secreted by everyone when they enter the growth phase.
Even young people, such as high school students, get AGA because testosterone begins to be secreted.

When DHT binds to receptors, the growth cycle becomes about 2 months to 1 year, and the regression and telogen phases progress, resulting in thinning hair and hair loss.

"Hormones cause thinning hair (AGA)" (
1) Testosterone changes to DHA (2) DHA binds to dermal papilla receptors

(3) Hair on the head cannot grow sufficiently

Heredity leads to thinning hair (AGA)

Have you ever heard that thinning hair is inherited? That's not a lie. In the previous section, we explained that DHT is a factor that causes AGA.

DHT is a factor in AGA. DHT is a testosterone denatured by the influence of "5α reductase".

It is said that the degree of activity of this "5α reductase" and the number of receptors associated with DHT are determined by genetics.

The number of receptors associated with DHT is said to be influenced by maternal inheritance in males. A large number of receptors means that the constitution is susceptible to the effects of DHT.

On the other hand, it is said that the element that actively works on 5α-reductase is regardless of paternal or maternal side, and if you have that gene, it may be inherited by your child.

"There are two factors that lead to heredity (AGA)" (
2) The activity of an enzyme called "5α-reductase" is inherited
(<>) The number of receptors that bind to DHT is inherited.

Be careful with your lifestyle! Bad habits for hair accelerate thinning hair (AGA)

Even if you take oral treatment with AGA, etc., if you do not get a clear effect, it may be due to your lifestyle habits.

It has been found that people with poor lifestyle habits such as diet, sleep, exercise, and stress increase DHT because it strengthens the action of 5α-reductase.

If you want to improve the symptoms of thinning hair (AGA), you will also need to review your lifestyle.

Eating habits

People with disordered eating habits often consume too much sugar and fat, which leads to a lack of nutrients that are naturally needed for hair.

If you eat a lot of carbohydrates and fats, the cholesterol in the blood will increase and the blood flow will be staggered. It makes it difficult for the nutrients needed for hair growth to be transported.

In addition, in a state of excess sugar, glycation occurs in the body and the activity of hair matrix cells is weakened. As a result, the hair cycle is disrupted, which promotes thinning hair.

When considering a diet that is good for hair, it is important to have "protein, vitamin C, B vitamins, and zinc".

It activates enzymes that work to produce hair in the hair matrix cells.
In addition, protein is the very component of hair.

Eating a well-balanced diet of these nutrients is a good eating habit for your hair.

Lack of sleep

Sleep is important for promoting hair growth. In particular, growth hormone, which is indispensable for hair growth, makes hair thicker and longer and contributes to the improvement of the scalp.

If you don't get enough sleep, growth hormone will not be secreted, and hair growth will stagnate. In addition, the accumulation of fatigue worsens the blood flow in the scalp, which leads to further thinning hair.

stress

Due to various social influences, "stress" is now a word that we hear on a daily basis.

Stress is often referred to as a psychological or psychohostile factor, but in reality, it is a word that expresses the influence of some external stimulus.

The sympathetic and parasympathetic nerves have a great influence on stress.
The sympathetic nervous system makes the body active.
The parasympathetic nerve works to rest the body.

If you are stressed by some external factor, you will not be able to maintain the function of the sympathetic and parasympathetic nerves.

When the autonomic nerves do not work well due to stress, the hormonal balance is disturbed. If you do this, you will not get the benefits of growth hormone and the normal growth of hair will not be promoted.

In addition, the amount of testosterone converted to DHT also increases, which is a factor in accelerating hair thinning.

It is no exaggeration to say that stress is the biggest enemy of lifestyle habits.

Measures against thinning hair that you can do yourself, improvement and prevention methods

It was found in the explanation in the previous paragraph that lifestyle habits have a major influence on the cause of thinning hair.

As a countermeasure against thinning hair that you can do yourself, it is important to shift your lifestyle to one that is good for your hair.

Eat a well-balanced diet

Again, the nutrients that are good for hair are "protein, vitamin C, B vitamins, and zinc".

This may be good news for meat lovers, but some types of meat are high in fat. High fat content can increase cholesterol levels in the blood, which can have a negative effect on hair.

It is recommended to get protein sources for hair nutrients from fish, eggs, and soy products, if possible. In particular, DHA and EPA contained in fish have been recognized as having the effect of improving blood flow.

Get a good night's sleep and get a good night's sleep

Do you feel that you have trouble falling asleep or not being able to sleep soundly in your daily life? In such a case, the internal rhythm of the body may be disturbed.

The hormone that promotes smooth fall asleep and deep sleep is "melatonin".
It is a hormone that responds to light, and when you wake up in the morning and are exposed to sunlight, your body clock resets and the secretion of melatonin stops.

It is secreted again 14 to 15 hours after exposure to light, making you drowsy and promoting sleep. It continues to be secreted throughout the night, and when it peaks in the middle of the night, you can sleep soundly.

In addition, growth hormone, which affects hair growth, peaks in secretion for 3 hours after falling asleep.
If you ensure that you have a good overall sleep time, the cycle of entering deep sleep will increase, and the amount of growth hormone secreted will also increase.

Correct your lifestyle and get enough sleep to promote hair growth.

Relieve stress with exercise! Freedom from all stress is the key to thinning hair!

If stress is eliminated, the autonomic nerves will not be disturbed, hormones will be secreted firmly, and the body's nutrition will be supplied firmly, preventing the progression of thinning hair.

However, even if you think about it normally, it is unlikely that any person will be stressed to zero. If you know the cause of stress, you should be able to reduce the impact on your hair by releasing it well and getting along with it well.

One of the most recommended is exercise. Moving your body also improves blood flow, promotes metabolism, and improves the function of the autonomic nervous system.

In addition, growth hormone is secreted to restore muscles damaged by exercise, which has a positive effect on the hair as a result.

Cigarettes and alcohol are also stressful for the body

When it comes to relieving stress, don't forget to abstain from alcohol and quit smoking.

When alcohol is consumed, it consumes a large amount of amino acids to break down in the liver. These amino acids are important nutrients that make keratin, a protein necessary for hair.

Since it is preferentially used for the breakdown of alcohol, excessive drinking is a factor that causes thinning hair to progress.

In addition, factors that make smoking bad are nicotine and carbon monoxide. Nicotine constricts blood vessels, so nutrients do not reach the hair. Nicotine destroys vitamin C, which is important for hair growth.

Smoking has also been shown to be harmful to the body, so if you are concerned about thinning hair, try quitting smoking.

Prevention against juvenile alopecia (AGA)

So far, we have introduced methods for thinning hair that you can work on yourself.

As a preventative measure against juvenile alopecia (AGA), it is important to know if you have a genetic predisposition and take the initiative to deal with it. In addition, you want to know the nutritional status of your body and create a good growth environment for your hair.

Even if you start to notice thinning hair, you can deal with it early by knowing if there are any factors that contribute to it.

Once you become aware of thinning hair, the initial treatment will determine your future symptoms. It is also a good idea to take a test to know the environment related to hair in the body.

Examine androgen receptors with a blood test

As mentioned in the previous section, genetic predisposition is known to be one of the causes of hair loss.

Even if you have a genetic predisposition, you will not develop premature baldness 100% of the time, but you can test to see if you have that predisposition. It is also a good idea to look at your relatives' tendencies and find out what your genetic predisposition is.

If you know that you have a predisposition, you can be aware of lifestyle habits from an early stage and lead to prevention.

Androgen receptors are tests that look at DHT and testosterone receptors, which cause alopecia. You can find out if you are susceptible to DHT.

Know the environment in the body with hair mineral testing and know the effect on the hair

Hair mineral testing involves taking a small amount of your own hair to measure the amount of nutrients and toxins in your body.

The test results also show the nutrients that are deficient in the diet and the accumulation of harmful substances contained in the hair, so it can be worked to efficiently replenish the missing nutrients and excrete harmful substances.

Summary

The causes of thinning hair are genetics and one's own lifestyle.

Hereditary factors cannot be avoided, but if you know your constitution from an early stage, you can prevent and take measures. There are many things you can do before you give up on "heredity" or "constitution".

Reflect on your living environment and change your lifestyle habits to be good for your hair.

Try not to be affected by genetic factors as much as possible and take a proactive approach to thinning hair (AGA).