"If Mom and Dad Have Hair Loss, It's a Funnel"—Seoul National University Professor Says Hair Density Is Determined in the Womb [Smart Wellness]

[Financial News] A, a 21-year-old college student, has been under considerable stress as his or her M-shaped hair loss has worsened. Afraid of the side effects of medication, A tried relying on popular hair-loss shampoos and supplements, but they were not enough to restore the thinning hairline.
Hair loss is not just A's problem. Although it has become a widespread concern in South Korea, with the country's hair-loss population approaching 10 million, many people still rely on unproven hair-loss shampoos or health supplements instead of seeking medical treatment. Medical professionals warn that those who turn to such folk remedies may miss the "golden window for treatment."
Kwon, Ohsang, a professor of dermatology at Seoul National University Hospital, recently appeared on the hospital's official YouTube channel. He explained how hair loss develops and outlined proper medical treatments for people who may delay treatment because of common misconceptions about the condition.

When asked, 'How far has hair loss been conquered?' Professor Kwon explained why treating it is difficult, saying, "To solve hair loss, we have to unlock the secrets of life, aging, illness and death." According to Kwon, hair is formed only during fetal development in the mother's womb. Once a person is born, they must live with a fixed number of hairs. At present, the only way to create hair again would be to return to the fetal stage. Just as people must care for their permanent teeth throughout their lives, hair also requires lifelong management.
He cited family history, aging and male hormones as the main causes of male-pattern hair loss. The condition occurs when some of the male hormone testosterone combines with 5-alpha reductase and is converted into dihydrotestosterone (DHT), causing the hair follicles to age prematurely. In particular, if hair-loss genes are inherited from both the maternal and paternal sides, the speed and extent of hair loss—in other words, the rate at which the follicles age—become more pronounced.
He also introduced a way to self-check for male-pattern hair loss. In what is commonly called M-shaped hair loss, the condition may be beginning if the two corners of the forehead rise to within 2 centimeters of the height of the ears. Hair at the front that feels thinner or softer than the hair at the back of the head is another warning sign.

Regarding the use of shampoos and health functional foods to manage hair loss, he said, "Medication, cosmetics and health functional foods should be considered separately." Because hair loss is influenced by aging, anti-aging products may be helpful. However, products used by the general public inevitably offer reduced efficacy in the process of minimizing side effects.
Professor Kwon said that "medication must be the foundation" of hair-loss treatment. Although genetics and aging cannot be overcome, male hormones can be controlled, he emphasized. The principle is to regulate DHT, which contributes to hair loss, through medication. Such drugs can cause side effects, but the side-effect rate is only 1%. Even when side effects occur, the body adapts and recovery follows. If the medication is inconvenient, it can be replaced with Minoxidil, a drug that widens blood vessels, or the two medications can be used together.
According to Professor Kwon, when it comes to treating hair loss, what people do not do is more important than what they do. Being overweight, smoking and heavy drinking can have negative effects, as can medical conditions such as diabetes and hyperlipidemia. Excessive weight loss can also stop the follicles from functioning.

Regarding 'follicle cloning,' a subject of interest to many people, he began by calling it "the most difficult method." Problems can arise when using stem cells to create hair; for example, abnormal stem-cell differentiation can lead to tumors.
However, a research team at Seoul National University has been actively working to create perfect skin capable of producing hair follicles. The team observed fetuses at three months of pregnancy, when hair follicles form, and created a map of skin development. Its goal is to produce personalized hair follicles using a skin-on-a-chip, in which human cells and tissues are cultured on a tiny chip.

[email protected] Kim Hyun-sun Reporter