"Lately the amount falling out when I wash my hair has noticeably increased. Is it hair loss, or just stress?"
"My crown seems to be thinning — what should I do before it's too late?"
This is the first thing people who've started worrying about hair loss bring up.
Hello, we're Director Kwon Si-jin & Yoon Ju-hyun at DA Clinic Myeongdong ^^
We're getting ready to open our doors in Myeongdong soon, and with the opening ahead of us, since so many people carry this worry and ask about it beforehand, I wanted to lay it out first as a matter of information.
First, let me acknowledge how you feel. When the scalp starts showing through in the mirror, anyone's heart starts to race.
That said, with hair loss, knowing "why it's falling out" comes before "which drug to use." When the cause differs, the approach differs too.
Read for just 3 minutes today and you'll see what to look after first, before getting anxious.
Hair Loss Starts with a 'Diagnosis That Finds the Cause'
First, let me clear up one misunderstanding before we begin.
Not all hair loss is the same just because hair is falling out. Sometimes genetics and hormones have a big influence, and sometimes stress, nutrition, and the scalp environment are intertwined.
So the first things we look at are the scalp condition, hair density, and the pattern of loss (M-shape, O-shape, crown, or overall).
Especially when, unlike usual, hair falls out in handfuls over a short period or thins in round patches, a different kind of cause may be intertwined — like major stress, childbirth, rapid dieting, or thyroid issues. That's why, before "let me try hair-loss medication first," distinguishing what kind of loss it is comes first.
Picture a leaking ceiling and it becomes easy to understand. You have to find where it's leaking before you can decide where to work on it ㅎㅎ With hair loss too, you have to know the cause before you can decide which methods to combine.
First, the Most Common Is 'Androgenetic Hair Loss'
The M-shape and crown hair loss common in men, and the widening of the crown part common in women, are commonly classified as androgenetic hair loss.
It's a pattern where, under the influence of genetic predisposition and hormones, hair gradually thins and the growth phase shortens.
Because this type is progressive, the earlier you notice it, the wider your room to respond.
For this, drugs (finasteride, minoxidil, etc.) are commonly mentioned, but the effect and suitability differ from person to person and are something to judge through a diagnosis. Prescription and use must be decided after consulting with a medical professional. (There are individual differences)
Second, Beyond Drugs, 'Scalp Procedures' Are Also One Pillar
Hair loss management is often done by combining several methods in stages, rather than going with a single method.
A representative one is mesotherapy, a procedure that delivers ingredients that help hair growth directly into the scalp via micro-injections.
Along with this, we sometimes design device care that supports the scalp environment, like low-level laser therapy (LLLT), and home-care guidance to suit each patient's condition.
That said, no combination is a "solved in one go" method. It's usually closer to management you continue steadily at set cycles while watching the response. The effect and the suitable combination differ from person to person.
Third, Real Change Is Made by 'Time'
When you start hair loss management, there can be a period (shedding) where, within as little as one or two months, it seems like you're losing even more.
Many people are taken aback, but this is known to be a process where new hair coming up pushes out the old hair.
Because hair follows a set growth cycle, it usually takes several months for change to become visible.
So rather than judging "it doesn't work" after just one or two months, it's important to check in regularly and watch the flow. Continuing steadily influences the result more than getting better quickly. (The response speed has large individual variation)
Honestly, You Absolutely Have to Note This
I can't promise that hair loss management reverses every kind of loss.
In significantly advanced cases, the weight may fall on slowing the rate of progression rather than growing new hair, and in that case, discussing another direction like hair transplantation together is the honest path, I think.
And drugs are reported to cause side effects in some people (changes in sexual function, mood changes, etc.), and some drugs are restricted during pregnancy and breastfeeding. That's why, before prescribing, we make it a principle to fully explain what's possible and to check safety regularly.
It's not "medication first, no matter what" or "procedure first, no matter what." Knowing why your scalp is the way it is comes first.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. My hair is falling out a bit — is it enough to go to a clinic?
A. With hair loss, confirming the cause early gives you wider room to respond. Everyone loses some hair each day, but if the amount has noticeably increased compared to usual, or the crown or part looks wider, or a particular area looks empty, it's good to have your condition checked once. For progressive types like androgenetic hair loss, the earlier you notice, the easier it is to set a management direction. That said, not all loss is hair loss, and it's often from a temporary cause. So rather than concluding on your own, a diagnosis that examines the scalp and pattern together to distinguish the cause comes first.
Q. Once I start hair-loss medication, do I have to take it for life?
A. With hair-loss medication, steady use tends to be recommended to maintain the effect. Androgenetic hair loss is progressive, so it's known that if you stop taking it on your own, it can progress again over time. So rather than a "lifelong obligation," you can understand it as management you continue while you maintain the state you want. That said, since a drug's suitability, effect, and potential side effects differ from person to person, whether and how long to take it must be decided together with a medical professional through diagnosis and consultation. We, too, make it a principle to fully explain what's possible before prescribing.
Q. Will my hair grow back if I just get mesotherapy?
A. Mesotherapy is a procedure that delivers ingredients that help hair growth into the scalp via micro-injections, and it's one pillar of hair loss management. That said, it's hard to say that this procedure alone will regrow everyone's hair. Because the cause and stage of hair loss differ from person to person, it's usually closer to management that's combined in stages with drugs, home care, and the like, continued steadily at set cycles. Also, in significantly advanced cases, the weight may fall on slowing the rate rather than growing new hair. So which combination is right is best decided after first doing a scalp diagnosis.
In Closing
If I sum up today's content in one line, it's this.
One-line summary — With hair loss, cause diagnosis comes before 'drug choice,' and it's about creating a flow through steady management, not a single session.
If the increased amount falling out has made you anxious, it's okay to come in for a consultation carrying that anxiety just as it is. Knowing the cause tends to ease the urgency a good deal.
This article isn't meant to recommend a procedure or drug; it's an informational article put together as a matter of information while preparing to open.
DA Clinic Myeongdong is set to open soon. We'll share opening news and clinic information first on our blog and Instagram ^^
Thank you for reading to the end. This has been Director Kwon Si-jin & Yoon Ju-hyun at DA Clinic Myeongdong.
This column is an informational article intended to provide general medical information; the effects and side effects of any treatment may vary by individual. Whether to take any medication must be decided after consulting with a medical professional. DA Clinic Myeongdong is set to open soon. (Medical Service Act Art. 56)