Experts Name the 'Worst Hair-Washing Habit'... Dangerous Habits That Can Trigger Fall Hair Loss [Smart Wellness]

[Financial News] With wide temperature swings between day and night and dry conditions, autumn is a season when the scalp's oil-and-moisture balance is easily disrupted, making scalp health more vulnerable. Experts stress that, as the scalp becomes more sensitive during this period, people should start by reassessing their hair-washing habits.

Many people wash their hair in water hotter than 40°C because the weather has turned chilly. However, high-temperature water excessively dissolves the scalp's essential protective sebum film. This can cause the scalp's outer layer to become flaky, leading to dryness and itching. In severe cases, it may even trigger the scalp to produce excessive sebum as a counterproductive reaction.
Hong Ju-hyeong, director of Moheal Clinic, which specializes in hair-loss treatment, also identified washing one's hair in hot water as the first of the "hair-washing habits that damage the scalp." Hong warned, "Hot water strips away even the protective layer (oil) our scalp needs. If the scalp feels dry, it may actually produce two to three times as much oil as usual."

Going to bed with incompletely dried hair is also harmful. When a wet scalp comes into contact with sweat and body heat, it creates an environment conducive to the growth of Malassezia, a fungus that is part of the scalp's normal flora.
The free fatty acids released when Malassezia breaks down scalp sebum can cause seborrheic dermatitis, which triggers itching, redness, dandruff, and inflammation. In particular, microscopic inflammation around the hair follicles, where hair grows, can weaken the follicles and lead to hair loss.
Moreover, a damp pillow can become a breeding ground for mites and bacteria, potentially causing recurring scalp infections. Therefore, before going to sleep, it is best to thoroughly dry the hair roots and scalp using cool or lukewarm air.

Washing your hair two or three times a day with a strongly alkaline shampoo can also backfire. When the scalp is cleansed excessively, the skin recognizes it as a "crisis" and produces even more sebum to make up for the loss.
Surfactants in shampoo also wash away lipids between the scalp's keratinized cells, weakening the skin's protective barrier. Kim Ji-seok, director of the Busan Mammoth Hairline Clinic, explained, "If you wash your hair twice, in the morning and evening, when your scalp is dry or sensitive, this can actually irritate it. Unless you exercise a lot or sweat especially heavily, once a day is sufficient."

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