Hair Loss in China Leads to Increase in Hair Transplants
Hair loss is not a problem that is limited only to people in the United States. Hair loss can impact the looks and self-image of people all over the world. One recent example of hair loss that is an issue in other countries comes from China. It has been reported that hair loss is becoming a rather common issue for people in China and this is especially true of millennials.
Hair Loss in China by the Numbers
China’s National Health Commission recently released the results of a survey that showed one in six people in the country are suffering from hair loss. The one in six people statistic equates to over 250-million people in China experiencing some form of hair loss.
In addition, the surgery showed that men in the age group of 20 to 40 years of age are the main group that is suffering from the issue.
Increase in the Demand for Hair Loss Solutions in China
Because of the rise in the number of people suffering from hair loss, there has been a large increase in both the hair transplant market and the demand for wigs to cover the hair loss.
In a report on China Central Television, the owner of a wig shop said that the number of young customers visiting the shop has increased from about 10% to anywhere from 25%-30%. One of the reasons that the number of younger customers has increased is because this age group has a greater amount of worry or concern with their appearance.
Some of them make the decision to wear a hairpiece to try and hide the hair loss on the scalp. Others have turned to hair transplants in order to regain the amount of hair they have lost on the scalp.
The survey from China’s National Health Commission showed that around 57.4% of consumers that have undergone a hair transplant were born after 1990.
In terms of the increase in the amount of money spent on hair transplants in China, statistics show that the hair transplant market in the country increased from 5.7-billion yuan to 16.3-billion yuan. When translated to American dollars, the worth of the hair transplant market in China increased from $868,000,000 to $2,488,245,693. It is also expected that the hair transplant marketplace in China will reach 20-billion yuan before the end of 2020. This number translates to $3,053,062,200 in American dollars.
It should be noted that hair transplant surgery is still viewed as being quite expensive for many young people in China. The price for a hair restoration procedure can vary from thousands of yuan to tens of thousands of yuan. Even with the difference in the price, many younger members of the population in China feel that the price is worth it if the results are of a superior quality,
Reasons for the Increase of Hair Loss in China
While the demand for hair transplants among millennial patients is growing in China, there are also some reasons being pointed out for the loss of hair in younger people.
During an interview with Peking University, First Hospital dermatologist Yang Shuxia stated that an amount of “excessive anxiety can, in a way, interrupt, the normal growth cycle of hair.”
She did say that the public does not need to panic about the growing amount of hair loss in the country. Instead of worrying about the hair loss, she said that the public should take steps to notice any significant changes that have happened to them in the last few months. Some of these big changes can include the fact that they constantly suffer from anxiety, have experienced a rapid weight loss, suffer from a fever or have undergone changes to their daily routine. Once they have noticed and identified these changes that have occurred in the past few months, they should wait for three months in order to see if these symptoms go away on their own.
In addition, Yang Shuxia took the time to explain that not all hair loss happens for the same reasons. Some people can suffer from hair loss due to genetic reasons while others might suffer from hair loss as the result of the continuous pulling of hair in a certain part of the scalp or a medical or psychological condition.
Hair Restoration Options
Patients that are suffering from hair loss can address the issue using medications such as minoxidil or propecia. These medications are used on a daily basis to help stimulate the growth of hair on the scalp. Patients do need to know that these medications are not permanent solutions and the results will start to fade once a person stops taking the medication on a regular basis.
The one permanent hair loss solution for patients is a hair transplant. Hair grafts are moved from the donor area on the scalp (usually the back and sides of the scalp) and placed in the balding areas of the scalp. The hair that comes from the donor area is resistant to balding so the transplanted hair will not be susceptible to falling out of the scalp once it is transplanted.
Patients that are interested in learning more about the hair transplant process are invited to contact our office today to schedule a consultation appointment.
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