Chinese scalp anti-aging experts’ knowledge:

Itchy scalp and excessive dandruff may be due to scalp aging

Zheng Heng, Plastic Surgery Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences Feng Yongqiang

Many people have more scalp problems in winter: first their hair becomes oily, and then their scalp becomes itchy. After washing, there is a lot of dandruff the next day, and a day or two later their hair starts to become oily again. , itchy scalp... Such a vicious cycle. This problem may be caused by scalp aging.

The scalp is the most susceptible skin tissue to aging

The scalp is a continuation of the facial skin and neck skin, and is thinner than most of the skin on the face. The scalp is rich in sebaceous glands, has strong sebum secretion, relatively large density of hair follicles, and high free radical content. Moreover, it is at the highest point of human skin and bears relatively large tension and gravity. Therefore, the scalp is one of the parts of the skin tissue that is most susceptible to rapid aging.

Scalp aging will also make the face look older

The aging of the scalp goes through internal and external processes. The "Chinese Scalp Anti-Aging Experts' Medical Knowledge" (hereinafter referred to as the "Healthy Knowledge") jointly formulated by the Hair Medicine Branch of the Chinese Plastic Surgery Association, the Laser Technology Application Research Center of the Dermatology and Venereology Branch of the Chinese Medical Association and other institutions points out that, in general, The main manifestations of the population are intrinsic aging characteristics, such as hair thinning, graying, dryness, reduced elasticity, increased brittleness, hair loss, etc. People with hair loss will show internal and external aging characteristics due to less hair, such as pigmentation, atrophy, telangiectasia, cell structure changes, thinner skin and more prone to actinic keratosis, squamous cell carcinoma, Melanoma etc. To sum up, there are 7 manifestations of scalp aging:

01 Damaged scalp barrier function, dryness and scaling, and excessive oil secretion;

02 Thinning and sagging scalp;

03 scalp itching and inflammation;

04 occurrence of scalp skin tumors;

05 hair turning gray;

06 hair thinning and hair quality change Poor;

07 Thinning hair, hair loss, and baldness.

In addition, scalp aging may also lead to facial aging symptoms such as drooping eyelids, sagging cheeks, deepening of nasolabial folds, and drooping of the corners of the mouth.

Aging, sun exposure, smoking, etc. are all triggers

What causes scalp aging?

According to "Health Knowledge", the internal causes include changes in gene expression caused by increasing age, decreased antioxidant capacity, accumulation of inflammatory factors, weakened scalp microcirculation, and decreased vitality of hair follicle stem cells.

The external factors are mainly gene regulation disorders, oxidative stress, inflammatory stimulation, abnormal scalp microecology and hair follicle damage caused by long-term accumulation of ultraviolet radiation, inflammatory stimulation, environmental pollution, smoking and oil fumes.

6 ways to resist scalp aging

According to "Health Knowledge", there are 6 main ways to resist scalp aging:

Blackout and sun protection

Physical sun protection, prepare a sun hat, parasol and physical sunscreen when going out. For chemical sunscreen, choose sunscreen agents and hair care products with sunscreen effects. Some natural plant ingredients such as aloe vera, seaweed, sea buckthorn, astragalus, and ginkgo have the function of absorbing ultraviolet rays. In addition, antioxidants, nicotinamide, β-carotene and other drugs can be added under the guidance of a doctor to combat scalp photoaging.

Hair transplantation

This method is suitable for thinning hair, hair loss, baldness and other conditions.

Mesotherapy

Vitamin C, glutathione and other antioxidant ingredients, complex amino acids, minerals and other nutrients, caffeine, tripeptide-1 copper and other hair follicle protection ingredients , can act as antioxidant, promote microcirculation, inhibit 5α reductase activity, protect hair follicles, and play an anti-aging role in the scalp.

Scalp care

Massage, cleansing and care.

Photoelectric therapy

It mainly includes low-energy laser therapy and fractional laser therapy. Low-energy laser treatment uses low-energy laser irradiation with a wavelength of 650 to 785 nanometers, which can increase the production of adenosine triphosphate locally on the scalp, regulate reactive oxygen species, and induce the production of transcription factors, thereby improving microvascular circulation, reducing inflammation, and increasing the number of hair follicles and hair. of tensile strength.

Fractional laser first forms a small columnar micro-damage area on the skin surface, and then the dermis and subcutaneous tissue will quickly start the tissue repair mechanism, induce cell growth factors, promote the formation of local capillaries, and stimulate hair follicle cells. Function, improve microcirculation and promote hair growth.

Drug treatment

Take oral drugs under the guidance of a doctor, such as drugs containing ginsenosides, saw palmetto extract, and phytosterols, through anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-androgen Promotes scalp rejuvenation.