This time, we will talk about the relationship between scalp environment and AGA/thinning hair.
We will explain in detail about the scalp characteristics that are common among people with thinning hair and easy home care methods!

The relationship between AGA and the scalp

・Causes of AGA
It is now clear that the cause of AGA is largely genetic.
Since AGA is caused by a strong effect of male hormones due to genetics, it is impossible to stop its progression unless oral medication that suppresses male hormones is taken when treating AGA.
However, even with proper treatment, there are some people who are unable to stop the progression of the disease.

・Can AGA be cured with shock therapy?
In the past, there was some misinformation that thinning hair could be improved by rubbing or tapping the scalp, but the act of rubbing or tapping only hardens the skin and does not provide a fundamental solution.
Currently, research on AGA is progressing, and the aboveWe know that shock therapy does not cure the disease.

Balancing AGA treatment and scalp care

・AGA treatment and home care
A healthy scalp is important for growing thick, good quality hair.
When undergoing AGA treatment, it is important to take care of your scalp in parallel with the treatment.

We have also seen from the cases of our clinic's customers that people who combine AGA treatment with home scalp care tend to see faster results from treatment.
First, check the condition of your scalp.

How to self-check your scalp

Knowing your current scalp condition is the first step in prevention and treatment.
With two check itemsScalp conditionLet's check it out.

① Check for scalp problems
-Do you have an itchy scalp?
Dry scalp

Itching is often caused by dry scalp, and although it is simply referred to as dryness, there are many different causes, such as atopic dermatitis, pollen, and allergies.
Scratching causes dandruff, which in turn causes the injured area to become inflamed, making it even more itchy, creating a vicious cycle that can lead to thinning hair and thinning hair.

② Check the color of your scalp
The ideal scalp is pale blue in color.
The ideal scalp

Inflamed scalp

An inflamed scalp has a reddish color and is prone to developing scalp acne.
In addition, if your scalp is yellow or white, even if you don't notice any symptoms, there is a high possibility that you may be suffering from dandruff or itching.

If you find it difficult to check the color of your scalp yourself, it is a good idea to ask a hairdresser who is accustomed to seeing scalps, or someone close to you such as a friend or family member to check it for you.

▼Please take a look at this detailed explanation of scalp self-checks.

Home scalp care methods

Once you have checked your scalp condition, it's time to start taking care of your scalp at home.
Even if you are not currently experiencing hair loss, if you are worried that it may be genetic and that it may become more likely in the future, you can slow down the progression by making home care a habit and improving your scalp environment.
Here are some simple home care tips.

・Moisturizing care for the scalp
Nowadays, there are all-in-one creams that require little maintenance, soI recommend applying it directly to your scalp in the morning and evening for best results.
Our clinic's original Dr. TOUHI is the industry's first scalp skin care product that combines lotion, beauty serum, milky lotion, cream and hair growth ingredients in one bottle.
▼For more information, please check the product page.

・Scalp massage
Massage your scalp and neck for a short time every day. If you continue this for three months, your symptoms will improve dramatically.

▼We introduce case studies from our clinic that will show you the importance of home care, as well as massages that you can do at home, so please take a look!
 

▼Detailed explanation of the effects of scalp massage

 ▼ Explains how to massage the scalp

How to improve a hard scalp

Characteristics of a hard scalp
A stiff and immobile scalp is also one of the causes of thinning hair.
Some people may not be able to imagine what it feels like for the scalp to move or to have a stiff scalp, but a stiff scalp feels tight and tense, and is in a state where the scalp really cannot move.
When looking at people with thinning hair, many of them have a hard scalp. This is a sign of poor circulation, making it difficult for nutrients to reach the hair roots, and scalp massage is an effective way to improve this.

・Medical head spa

Our clinic's medical head spa isAnywaysThe menu focuses on softening and relaxing the scalp and promoting blood circulation, and you will feel your scalp become soft and relaxed after just one treatment.
In addition to relieving tension in the scalp, head spa has other beneficial effects as well, such as lifting the face, which is connected to the ground, making the eyes appear brighter, so we recommend it.

・Scalp hardness
Beneath the scalp is the skull, and ideally the skin between the scalp and the bone should be thick and fluffy.
For example, if you plant a plant directly on asphalt, it will not grow, but the way the plant grows will depend on how much soil is piled on top of the asphalt.
The same can be said for the scalp; just as plants have difficulty growing without soil, poor skin will only produce poor quality hair.
If the entire scalp above the skull is thick, soft and flexible, it can store moisture and nutrients and distribute them to where they are needed, creating an environment conducive to healthy hair growth.

・Scalp condition = hair condition
I feel that there are many people who are unaware that their scalp is hard.
Beautiful hair often means that your scalp is also in good condition, and looking at the condition of your scalp can also tell you about the condition of your current hair.

Recommended ways to wash your hair

If the scalp environment deteriorates due to incomplete washing, it may be one of the causes of accelerating the progression of AGA.Therefore, it is important to know and practice the correct way to wash your hair to thoroughly remove dirt.

・Bad hair washing methods
If you wash your hair more than necessary because you are worried about stickiness, it may cause more oil to come out and cause problems.If your scalp is dry and you scrub it, it will become even drier.

Recommended hair washing method
If you want to thoroughly and gently remove dirt, don't just apply shampoo and scrub.Apply hair oil directly to your scalp, massage it in to loosen the sebum, then shampoo to remove the dirt cleanly and with less strain on your scalp.
We also use oil cleansing in our head spa treatments, so please try incorporating it into your bath time as a special treatment once a week or once a month.

▼Please take a look at our detailed explanation of how to wash your hair properly.
 

 ▼Please take a look at the blog that examines what happens to your scalp after washing only with hot water for a week.

Rinse thoroughly to ensure no residue remains.

It is also important to rinse thoroughly so that no residue remains.
As you can see clearly under a microscope, even if there is no shampoo left, if you apply treatment to your scalp, there is a high probability that some of it will not be rinsed out.
The basic rule is to apply the treatment only to your hair, so as not to let it get on your scalp, and be sure to rinse it off thoroughly after application.

・How to check for remaining areas
We mentioned earlier that it is important to check yourself by noticing the smell of your scalp, but the cause of this smell may be that you are not properly rinsing off shampoo or hair products, or that you are not properly removing dirt.

▼For more information on scalp odor, please see here.
 

Summary
If you are not seeing any results from AGA treatment, or if you are worried about developing AGA in the future and are interested in prevention, be sure to pay attention to improving your scalp environment.
It has been found that there is a big difference between those who take care of their skin and those who don't.

First, check the current condition of your scalp yourself, and by taking good care of it at home, your symptoms may improve dramatically.

If you don't know the cause of your hair loss or the timing of treatment, please feel free to come and consult with Dr. TOUHI CLINIC, where we have both doctors and beauticians on hand!
With the goal of resolving patients' concerns, we work together with people from different industries to provide hair loss treatment and proper care, so we can provide advice from a variety of approaches.
Let's work together to find the best solution!