Smoking, Obesity, and Stress Among Main Causes Rising Cases Among Middle-Aged Women According to recent data, four out of ten patients who visited hospitals for hair loss last year were in their 20s or 30s. Based on data obtained by Representative Kim Ye-ji of the National Assembly’s Health and Welfare Committee from the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service (HIRA), the number of patients who visited medical institutions for hair loss increased from 234,780 in 2020 to 241,217 in 2024 — a rise of 2.7% over four years. This statistic only includes patients diagnosed with hair loss diseases covered by national health insurance, such as alopecia areata. It does not include cases treated for aesthetic purposes or hereditary and aging-related hair loss. Notably, the proportion of young patients has increased significantly. In 2024, 39,079 patients were in their 20s, and 51,619 were in their 30s, accounting for a combined 37.6% of all hair loss patients. The number of patients in their 40s and 50s stood at 54,724 and 46,913, respectively. The rise in younger patients has been attributed to westernized dietary habits, stress, smoking, lack of sleep, and unbalanced nutrition caused by excessive dieting. Professor Kwon Oh-sang of the Department of Dermatology at Seoul National University Hospital stated, “The major causes of hair loss include genetic predisposition and aging. However, environmental factors such as smoking and obesity also play a significant role. The increase in obesity among young adults is contributing to the growing prevalence of hair loss.” Hair loss among middle-aged women is also on the rise. Among hair loss patients in their 20s to 40s, women accounted for 37.2%, while the proportion rose to 49.7% among those in their 50s and 60.2% among those in their 60s. Experts attribute this to hormonal changes associated with aging. By type, alopecia areata accounted for 177,371 patients last year, or 72% of the total. Male-pattern baldness was reported in 25,776 cases, and other forms of hair loss totaled 31,395 cases. Since hair loss is a gradual process linked to hair follicle aging, specialists emphasize the importance of early management before symptoms become severe. While it is normal to lose about 50–100 hairs a day, losing more than 100 may indicate hair loss. Thinning of hair around the forehead compared to the back of the head, or an unusually oily scalp, are also early warning signs. Experts advise that “to prevent hair loss, one should avoid smoking, heavy drinking, and irregular sleep patterns, and maintain an appropriate weight through consistent aerobic exercise and a balanced lifestyle”(Chosun Ilbo, October 9, 2025). (Click Here) |
