Many people are conscious of "aging of the skin on their face" and take care of their skin in their daily lives,You may not often think about or research "scalp aging" in detail.
"My hair used to be straight when I was younger, but lately it's become wavy and hard to manage..." "Gray hair and lack of volume, is this something I just have to accept as a sign of aging?"
I think many people feel this way.

Many of these hair problems, such as frizz, graying, and thinning hair, are actually not caused solely by age itself, but very often by "aging of the scalp, which is the foundation of the hair."

However, many peopleWe tend to focus on the hair that is already growing, thinking things like, "My hair is wavy, so I'll get a hair straightening treatment," or "My gray hairs are noticeable, so I'll dye them."
In many of the consultations we receive on a daily basis, scalp aging plays a significant role.
By addressing the root cause, "scalp aging," rather than just superficial treatments, and providing proper care, you may be able to significantly improve hair problems that you had almost given up on.
The topic of "scalp aging" might be a little difficult to visualize, but let's start by correctly understanding what is currently happening to your own scalp.

The relationship between scalp aging and hair quality

The term "scalp aging" might not immediately resonate with you, but it's easier to understand if you think of it as "the exact same phenomenon that causes facial skin to age is happening on your scalp."
Just as the skin on your face changes with age, the scalp, being a single continuous layer of skin, undergoes the exact same kind of changes.

The following symptoms that appear when the skin on your face ages can actually also occur on your scalp.
- Pores become enlarged, and the shape of pores becomes distorted.
- Wrinkles and sagging begin to appear.
- You start to get more blemishes and moles.

These changes are usually hidden by hair and cannot be seen by the individual, but they become clearly visible when the scalp is examined with a microscope.
I've examined the scalps of a great many people using a microscope during actual medical consultations and various events and exhibitions, and I've noticed that especially in people over 40, sagging of the scalp can distort the shape of hair follicles, and many fine wrinkles and blemishes become apparent.
そ し て,This aging of the scalp is actually the cause of "frizzy hair" and "difficulty in managing hair."

"My hair used to be perfectly straight, but lately it's become wavy and unmanageable," is a common concern we receive from people in their 40s and older. 
As the scalp ages and sags, the hair follicles, which are normally perfectly round, become stretched and distorted into oval or irregular shapes.
Hair that grows from these distorted follicles has a bumpy, irregular cross-section, making it difficult for it to grow straight, which manifests as frizz and volume on the surface. I feel that a great many people are unaware of this fact.

When you hear the words "scalp" and "hair," some people might think of them as two different things.
However, for many people who feel that their hair quality has changed with age, the root cause is not simply the aging of the hair itself, but rather the aging of the scalp (skin quality) which is directly reflected in the hair.
I think realizing this will change your awareness of scalp care.

▼For those who used to have straight hair but have now developed curly hair

Causes that accelerate scalp aging

Scalp aging isn't simply due to the aging process itself.
Daily lifestyle habits and incorrect hair care can significantly accelerate the aging process.
In actual clinical practice, we frequently see cases where scalp damage is advanced and the scalp appears aged to an extent that is in line with age, not only among people in their 60s and 70s, but also among younger generations in their 20s and 30s.
The main factors that accelerate scalp aging include the following:

① Disruption of lifestyle habits
A poor diet, lack of sleep, and lack of exercise can reduce blood flow and cellular metabolism in the scalp.
Excessive drinking and smoking, in particular, have a significant negative impact on scalp health.

② Insufficient scalp care (dryness)
Even if you meticulously care for your face every day, most people neglect moisturizing their scalp or using beauty serums.
Dryness of the scalp due to being unprotected can accelerate the aging process.

③ Damage from repeated coloring and perms
Frequent hair coloring and perming treatments, with their strong chemicals, damage scalp cells and significantly accelerate skin aging.

When these factors combine, it's not uncommon for aging to progress faster than one would normally expect.

However, some people might wonder, "Aren't there some people who drink alcohol but still have strong hair or consistently beautiful hair?" 
It's true that genetic factors play a significant role in hair volume and quality.
But,What's truly important is the condition of your scalp (skin texture), which is the "foundation" for hair growth.
Even if your hair appears strong due to genetics, as your scalp ages and changes, you will inevitably experience similar problems such as frizz, graying, and thinning hair sooner or later.

The potential of scalp care

Recently, the age at which people are troubled by gray hair has been decreasing, and we are seeing an increase in patients in their 20s coming to our clinic for consultations and treatments related to gray hair.
This too"Scalp aging," caused by lifestyle habits and a deterioration of scalp conditions, is deeply involved.

When symptoms such as thinning hair, gray hair, and frizzy hair begin to appear, a great many people give up, thinking, "I'm getting old, there's nothing I can do about it." 
However, there is a major misunderstanding here.
Many people don't realize that these hair problems aren't caused by aging, but rather by "scalp aging," just as some people in their 20s suffer from gray hair.

While it's true that we can't completely eliminate age-related changes, many of these are not simply irreversible signs of aging, but rather "aging phenomena that can be improved or significantly slowed down by properly caring for and maintaining the scalp."

When changes appear in your hair, one way to deal with them is to get a hair straightening treatment at a salon or repeatedly dye your gray hair.
However, these are merely temporary treatments for the hair that is already growing, and depending on how they are done, they can actually increase the burden on the scalp.

By improving your scalp environment and consistently performing basic care such as improving blood circulation and moisturizing, you may notice a change in your hair.
What's important is not just caring for the hair itself, but caring for the scalp that nourishes the hair.

For those who haven't paid much attention to their scalp before, simply changing this perspective can be a huge step towards improvement.
By properly caring for the scalp, which is the foundation of your hair, and restoring it to a youthful and healthy state, it is entirely possible to transform the new hair that grows in from now on into healthy and manageable hair.

▼The importance of scalp care
 

Counseling at Dr. TOUHI CLINIC

"What could be causing my current hair problems?"
"I don't know what condition my scalp is in right now."
If you have such doubts, the quickest way to improve your scalp is to first understand its current condition and become more aware of your scalp.
At Dr. Touhi Clinic, we use a microscope during consultations to meticulously and precisely examine the scalp condition of each individual patient.

• Scalp skin type: Is it dry or oily?
• Scalp condition: Check for redness or inflammation caused by pollen or allergies.
• Condition of damage: Is it brownish due to sun exposure or other factors such as UV rays?

When people actually look at their scalp with a microscope, many gain new insights, such as realizing that it's drier than they thought or that it's slightly red.
 Since the condition of your scalp changes depending on the season and your physical condition, the appropriate care and treatment methods will also vary depending on the symptoms at that time.
That's why "knowing the current condition of your scalp" is the most important first step in scalp care.

▼【The First Step in Treatment】We're revealing the scalp diagnosis we perform at our clinic!

Whether you decide to start treatment immediately or not, knowing your current condition will definitely be helpful for your future hair care and scalp health.
Simply having the opportunity to start taking care of your scalp, a part of your body you've never paid attention to before, just like you would your face, and gaining the right knowledge, can significantly change the future of your hair.
Before deciding whether or not to receive treatment, please feel free to come in for a consultation so that you can first check and understand your current "scalp age" and "skin condition."

▼Dr. TOUHI CLINIC Counseling

Summary

In this article, we explained "what scalp aging is" and "its relationship to hair frizz, gray hair, and thinning hair."
Changes in your hair can suddenly become noticeable one day.
And many people are tempted to give up, thinking, "It's just because of my age, there's nothing I can do about it." 

However, in reality, the underlying cause is very often a change in the scalp (foundation).
That's why it's so important to first "understand the current condition of your scalp." 
Even small changes in your appearance when you look in the mirror, such as "My hair seems harder to manage lately" or "I've noticed more frizz and gray hairs," are perfectly fine.
That sensation is a very important signal from your scalp.
Just like with facial skincare, properly caring for and maintaining your scalp on a daily basis will allow you to grow healthy hair no matter your age.
Understanding your current hair condition accurately will significantly change how you care for your hair going forward.
Let's start by taking things one step at a time, in a way that's manageable for you.