Anyone else seeing way more 20 year olds at scalp clinics lately?
I was reading that CNA Lifestyle feature from a few days ago about why so many Gen Z Singaporeans are obsessed with scalp health now. It turns out the National Skin Centre actually released some pretty worrying data about early onset androgenetic alopecia. Basically, people in their early twenties are starting to see thinning way earlier than previous generations.
It is not just genetics anymore. The report linked a lot of this to urban stress. If you live here, you know the drill. It is the combination of high pressure jobs, terrible sleep cycles, and our lovely humidity that just creates a disaster for your hair follicles.
I noticed this myself when I started seeing way more hair in the shower drain after I started my first full time job. I used to think scalp treatments were just for middle aged guys or something you do at a fancy spa to relax. But the "scalp-first" trend is actually based on some solid logic. If the skin on your head is inflamed or clogged with sebum and pollution, your hair just won't grow right.
A lot of my friends are skipping the expensive hair masks that just coat the hair in silicone. Instead, they are spending that money on clarifying scalp scrubs or professional deep cleans. It is preventative care. It is much easier to keep the hair you have than to try and grow it back once the follicle has actually shrunken or died off.
The NSC report mentioned that the cortisol levels from our lifestyle literally mess with the hair growth cycle. It pushes hair into the shedding phase prematurely. When you add the fact that we live in a literal giant sauna, that sweat and oil sit on the scalp and cause micro-inflammation.
If you are worried about thinning, don't just buy a random "thickening" shampoo from the pharmacy. Those usually just have starch to make your hair look poofier. Start by getting a cheap handheld scalp massager to use while you wash your hair to really get the gunk out. Also, if you haven't checked your iron or vitamin D levels recently, go do a blood test at a polyclinic. Low iron is a huge hidden cause for thinning in Singapore because our diets can be a bit hit or miss.