Know Not, Know Not, There's a Hair Loss Called "Seborrheic Alopecia"

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Release time:2023-08-03 13:37

Know Not, Know Not, There's a Hair Loss Called "Seborrheic Alopecia"


As shampoo is poured, hair fills the bottom of the basin;

Blow-drying until dry, hair strands drift all over the floor;

Looking in the mirror, combing and grooming, thinning hair reappears...


What is this ailment, and can it be treated?


Dermatologists tell you, there's a type of hair loss called "Seborrheic Alopecia."


Q1· What is Seborrheic Alopecia?


Seborrheic Alopecia, also known as early baldness, male pattern baldness, and androgenetic alopecia, is associated with genetics, androgens, and excessive sebum production.


Q2· What are the symptoms of Seborrheic Alopecia?


The main symptoms of this condition include excessive scalp oil secretion, greasy feeling on the hair, increased dandruff, and hair thinning. In men, the hair usually starts to thin from the frontal sides, gradually extending to the top of the head, with a receding hairline forming a "high forehead," and eventually merging with the bald spot on the crown, leaving only hair on the occiput and temples. The affected scalp appears smooth and shiny. Women experience milder symptoms, mostly with hair thinning on the top of the head. The progression of hair loss is generally slow and varies from person to person.


Q3· Traditional medical understanding


Seborrheic Alopecia falls under the category of "deficient hair decay" and "fungus-induced hair decay" in traditional Chinese medicine. Traditional Chinese medicine believes that hair loss is often related to the liver, kidney, and qi and blood. "Hair is the surplus of blood," and the liver stores blood, while the kidneys store essence, governing bones, and serving as the foundation of innate vitality. The flourishing of hair is dependent on the mutual nourishment of liver, kidney, essence, and blood, which are all essential substances for hair growth.


The "Inner Canon of the Yellow Emperor" states: "When blood and qi are abundant, kidney qi is strong, and the bone marrow is full, the hair is black; when blood and qi are deficient, kidney qi is weak, and the bone marrow is depleted, the hair turns white and falls out." If one's endowment is insufficient, or if there is excessive rumination and harm to the liver and kidneys, the essence and blood become deficient, leading to dryness and loss of hair.


In terms of treatment, emphasis is placed on differentiating and prescribing treatment. For those with insufficient liver and kidney, tonifying the liver and kidney is required; for those with damp-heat fumigation, clearing heat, removing dampness, and invigorating the spleen are necessary; for those with blood-heat and wind-dryness, cooling the blood, clearing heat, removing wind, and moistening dryness are needed. In terms of timing for treatment, it is crucial not to wait until the hair follicles shrink and large "bald spots" form before seeking treatment—the earlier the treatment, the better the results. Traditional treatments not only involve internal medicine but also a rich array of external therapies in traditional Chinese medicine, including herbal washes, topical application of herbal pastes, acupuncture, acupoint injections, plum blossom needle tapping, acupoint stimulation, scalp tapping, and massage.


A· Hair Clinic to Rescue Your Hair Loss


Know not, know not, with the faster pace of modern life, the incidence of Seborrheic Alopecia is on the rise. However, modern society is highly open, pursuing a high-quality lifestyle. To avoid disfiguring harm caused by hair loss, please pay attention to the health of your scalp and hair, and take early care, prevention, detection, and treatment. Our dermatology department holds a specialized hair clinic every Wednesday afternoon. We wish for all of us to have lustrous and beautiful hair.


Introduction of the Hair Clinic Doctors


Zhang Lian, a medical master's degree holder, graduated from Beijing University of Chinese Medicine in 2014 and has been working in the Dermatology Department of Ningbo Municipal Hospital ever since. As an attending physician in Traditional Chinese Medicine, she mainly engages in outpatient and inpatient work in dermatology. In 2018, she completed a half-year study in the Dermatology Department of Ruijin Hospital, affiliated with Shanghai Jiao Tong University, gaining insights into immunological skin diseases such as pemphigus, dry syndrome, and lupus erythematosus. She excels in using various external treatment methods for individualized diagnosis and treatment, such as plum blossom needle bleeding, acupuncture, moxibustion, micro-needle introduction, etc., for treating Seborrheic Dermatitis, hair loss, eczema, melasma, viral warts, etc. She now conducts hair clinic consultations every Wednesday afternoon.


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