"My Head Kept Feeling Hot, and Then It Happened"...The "Critical Warning Sign" That Led 18-Year-Old Jonathan to Shave His Head [Health Talk]

[Financial News] Broadcaster Jonathan emphasized the importance of scalp health after revealing that he had suffered premature hair loss at the young age of 18, when he was a second-year high school student.
Appearing on MBC entertainment program 'Playlist 109,' which aired on the 8th, Jonathan recalled 2018 and confessed, "My head suddenly started feeling hot even though I hadn't done anything. I thought it was because there were many things making me angry, so I ignored it. But my hair began falling out in patches, and eventually I had to shave my head."
Hair loss, once considered a condition primarily affecting middle-aged and older men, has recently become increasingly common among younger people, including teenagers and those in their 20s. The "heated scalp" sensation Jonathan mentioned is one of the representative early warning signs commonly experienced by many patients with premature hair loss.

According to practitioners of Korean medicine and dermatologists, excessive scalp heat, in which body heat becomes concentrated in the head, is a major cause of imbalance between oil and moisture in the scalp.
When the scalp temperature rises abnormally, sebum production can surge, clogging pores and making inflammatory reactions such as seborrheic dermatitis more likely. It can also interfere with microvascular circulation around the hair roots, cutting off nutrients supplied to follicle cells. This creates conditions in which hair becomes thinner and falls out more easily. Stress, irregular sleep, a Westernized diet, and overwork are considered major factors that can worsen excessive scalp heat.
Hair loss during childhood or adolescence can result from a combination of factors, including academic stress, hormonal imbalances, and nutritional deficiencies, in addition to genetic causes.
Because hair loss during this period can progress rapidly, receiving appropriate treatment early is essential. Once the condition advances to scarring alopecia, in which the follicles are completely destroyed and only scar tissue remains, it becomes difficult for hair to grow back.
In addition to a sudden hot or itchy scalp, people should immediately seek a specialist's diagnosis if they lose more than 100 hairs a day, if their forehead hairline is gradually receding, or if the hair at the crown has become noticeably thinner and weaker, as in Jonathan's case.

Experts emphasize that daily scalp care and improvements in lifestyle habits are especially important for preventing premature hair loss and slowing its progression.
When washing your hair, first use lukewarm water. During the final rinse, using slightly cool water can help quickly cool the heat concentrated in the scalp. Leaving the hair wet for a long time after washing allows moisture to build up on the scalp and makes bacterial growth more likely. Therefore, make a habit of thoroughly drying even the inner scalp with the cool-air setting of a hair dryer.
Managing sleep and reducing stress are also essential. Chronic sleep deprivation and extreme stress stimulate the sympathetic nervous system, constrict blood vessels in the scalp, and concentrate body heat in the upper body, potentially worsening hair loss. It is advisable to get at least seven hours of regular sleep each day and support overall blood circulation through light aerobic exercise or stretching.
If the early signs of male-pattern hair loss, or androgenetic alopecia, are clear, people should not rely solely on lifestyle changes but should begin medical treatment early as well. The most reliable way to prevent follicle deterioration is to receive a prescription from the outset for medically validated treatments, such as oral finasteride or dutasteride, or topical minoxidil.
DinDin, who appeared on the program with him, said, "I have been taking hair-loss medication and managing the condition for nearly 10 years." The key is to see a specialist as soon as symptoms are suspected, receive a diagnosis, and not miss the critical window for early treatment.
[email protected] Moon Young-jin Reporter