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My Hair is Falling Out: Is Job Search Stress Hair Loss Okay?

Do you feel anxious about the noticeably increasing amount of hair you see every time you wash your hair in the morning or shake out your pillow? Especially amidst the extreme stress of job hunting or office life, when you find yourself sighing "My hair is falling out," you might feel even more miserable looking at yourself in the mirror. Hair loss is not just an aesthetic issue; it is an important warning signal from your body and mind. When stress accumulates, the hair growth cycle is disrupted, and even healthy hair can easily fall out without strength.

💡 [Key Answer] The 3 most common causes of "My hair is falling out": ① Excessive Stress / ② Scalp Environment Imbalance / ③ Internal Immune and Hormonal Disturbance Dalimchae Clinic finds the root cause of symptoms through constitutional improvement treatment to create a body where healthy hair can grow again.

Modern people are easily exposed to stress due to job hunting, competition and pressure at work, and irregular lifestyle habits. This stress directly affects our body's autonomic nervous system and becomes a major cause of inducing or worsening hair loss. When stressed, the sympathetic nervous system becomes overactive, which hinders blood circulation and obstructs the supply of nutrients to the scalp. The activity of follicle cells is inhibited, and the growth phase of hair is shortened, leading to an increase in telogen effluvium.

Furthermore, stress affects the immune system. Especially in the case of alopecia areata, which is a type of autoimmune disease, stress can cause disturbances in the immune system, making it attack the hair follicles. Symptoms like heat rising to the scalp or inflammatory reactions are also evidence that stress is breaking the internal balance of the body. Many people visiting Incheon hair loss clinics complain of these stress-related symptoms.

Many people think of hair loss as a problem confined only to the scalp, but in Korean medicine, hair loss is viewed as a result of the breakdown of the overall balance of our body. The scalp is like a mirror reflecting the health status of the internal organs. In particular, decreased functions of the kidneys, liver, and lungs, along with blood circulation issues, are directly linked to hair health. Persistent stress causes heat to accumulate in the liver, which makes the blood turbid and prevents it from supplying sufficient nutrients to the hair. Also, if the circulation of Qi and blood is not smooth, the follicles weaken, and the hair becomes thinner and eventually falls out.

Korean medicine focuses on resolving the fundamental cause of hair loss by correcting these internal imbalances. It is important not only to address the outward symptoms but also to diagnose the individual constitution and health status of each patient to create an environment where healthy hair can grow from within.

According to a 2021 literature review study on "Korean Medicine Treatment for Hair Loss" published by Kim Kyung-han's research team in databases such as PubMed, OASIS, and RISS, it was confirmed that the condition of hair loss patients improved as a result of applying Korean medicine treatments (herbal medicine, acupuncture, pharmacopuncture, external preparations, etc.) to 1,464 patients across 22 clinical studies. In particular, this study pointed out the increasing influence of acquired factors such as stress and hormonal imbalances on the occurrence of hair loss, emphasizing the potential of Korean medicine treatment.

Also, in a retrospective study on the effectiveness of Korean medicine treatment for 222 patients with alopecia areata published in the Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology & Otolaryngology & Dermatology in 2019, Korean medicine treatment showed significant effects on alopecia areata, with positive changes such as a reduction in the hair loss area and thickening of hair observed through treatment. The researchers mentioned that neuropsychiatric factors as well as autoimmune mechanisms are discussed in the etiology of alopecia areata, suggesting that a Korean medicine approach can be useful data for treating intractable hair loss.

Based on this data, Dalimchae Clinic does not see hair loss due to stress as a simple hair problem but recognizes it as a problem of systemic health and focuses on treatments that resolve individual constitutions and internal imbalances. As an Incheon Guwol hair loss clinic, we provide integrated treatment that breathes vitality into every single strand of hair.

The 'Constitutional Improvement' treatment at Dalimchae Clinic aims not to temporarily suppress symptoms, but to restore a healthy state of the body and create a body where hair loss does not recur. Hair loss due to job search stress cannot be dismissed simply as a scalp problem. Excessive stress breaks the body's rhythm, degrades the functions of the internal organs, and causes decreased immunity and hormonal imbalance.

To resolve these complex causes, Dalimchae Clinic accurately diagnoses individual constitutions and prescribes customized herbal medicine to discharge toxins from the body and improve Qi and blood circulation. In particular, we help the scalp and hair gain regenerative power on their own by lowering the heat of organs overheated by stress and strengthening the weakened immune system.

Furthermore, we promote blood circulation in the scalp and help hair growth by directly supplying nutrients to the follicles through acupuncture and pharmacopuncture treatment. We prevent the progression of hair loss by alleviating scalp inflammation and extending the growth phase of hair, inducing healthy hair to grow thick and strong. This constitutional improvement treatment helps overall health recovery by improving not only hair loss but also autonomic nervous system problems such as insomnia, indigestion, and dizziness that can accompany job search stress. Many who seek Songdo hair loss clinics also experience chronic fatigue or indigestion.

Check how many of the following items apply to you.

• I have experienced excessive stress (job hunting, career change, exams, etc.) within the last 6 months.
• It feels like more than 100 strands of hair fall out every day.
• The scalp is often itchy and red, or a feeling of heat is felt.
• A hair loss area larger than a coin has suddenly appeared.
• Hair has overall become thinner and lost its strength.
• I often feel insomnia, indigestion, and extreme fatigue along with hair loss.
• A lot of dandruff or dead skin cells, which I didn't have before, have appeared.
• Fingernails break easily or lack luster.

[Diagnosis Result]

• If 3 or more apply: Stress-induced hair loss can be suspected. Active management is necessary; consider Korean medicine constitutional improvement treatment.
• If 5 or more apply: Immediate diagnosis and treatment are required. It is recommended to visit Dalimchae Clinic for a precise examination and consultation.

Q. Can stress-induced hair loss heal naturally? A. While it may improve on its own if the stress factors disappear, hair loss can progress if stress becomes chronic or affects the immune system. Since hair loss can worsen or become chronic without early diagnosis and treatment, active management is important.

Q. How long does Korean medicine hair loss treatment take? A. The duration of hair loss treatment varies greatly depending on the patient's type of hair loss, degree of progression, constitution, and lifestyle habits. Generally, steady treatment and management for at least 3 to 6 months or more may be needed for the body to regain its balance and for hair to regenerate. Dalimchae Clinic Incheon Branch will establish a customized treatment plan after a thorough diagnosis.

Q. Can I receive Korean medicine treatment while taking hair loss medication? A. Yes, it is possible to combine Korean medicine treatment while taking hair loss medication. Korean medicine treatment can help increase the effectiveness of hair loss medication and reduce side effects by improving the body's fundamental environment. It is important to establish a treatment plan suitable for the individual through sufficient consultation with the medical staff.

Q. Are stress-induced hair loss and alopecia areata the same? A. Stress is one of the main triggering factors for alopecia areata. While alopecia areata is an autoimmune hair loss where hair in specific areas falls out in a round shape, stress-induced hair loss can appear in the form of diffuse hair loss where hair overall becomes thinner or falls out, or telogen effluvium. Both are deeply related to stress.

Hair loss is not a problem that is solved by enduring. You no longer have to ignore the signals your body has been sending for a long time. If you approach in the right direction, the body responds faster than you think. Bring your symptoms exactly as they are. At Dalimchae Clinic, we will find the cause together.

Where life blooms. For herbal medicine, it's Dalimchae Korean Medicine Clinic. Check your symptoms similar to mine through the Dalimchae Clinic website AI consultation first!

This article is health information compiled by Dalimchae medical staff based on questions frequently received in the treatment room. Medical Supervision | Skin Disease Treatment Standards Dalimchae Clinic Incheon Branch Korean Medicine Doctor Min Jihong (Hair Loss Column)