Thirty, Flirty, and Losing Hair

Hair loss in our 20s and 30s? Experts suppose stress and modern-day pressures could be a major cause, while a new exosome-based treatment rises to the occasion.
Reading Time: 9 minutes

It’s no groundbreaking news: Our lifestyles have a significant impact on our appearance. As within, so without. We are what we eat—or consume, to be more precise. “How we spend our days is how we spend our lives,” says writer Annie Dillard. We are the sum of our habits. 

And the sayings go on and on. 

In other words, what seem to be minute little missteps—like not eating on time or staying up late—do catch up and bite us in the back. Coping with stress or anxiety through easy, quick fixes (read: cheap dopamine) is not really solving the problem; it can actually make it worse. And apparently, although we may already know this, these everyday choices we make could be one of the causes—if not the cause—of our many beauty woes: breakouts, weight gain, and, surprisingly, hair loss in our 20s and 30s.

Hair loss in millennials is not much talked about as opposed to anti-aging treatments, for example, but this doesn’t mean the problem does not exist. A 2021 report in Korea JoongAng Daily cites the rapid growth of the hair loss market, with data showing that of the 233,194 individuals who visited hospitals for hair loss in 2020, 43 percent were in their 20s and 30s. In a 2022 survey conducted among young people in China, results reveal the top two reasons they believe have caused them early onset hair loss: staying up late and mental stress. Vogue India writer Tarini Sood dishes on the woes of experiencing hair loss in her 20s. “My hair was never Rapunzel-like, but it had volume,” she says. “Now, it feels like I’m left with half of what I had.”

No Longer Just a “Guy Thing”

In the Philippines, what used to be a predominantly “male problem” is now equally shared by women, if not more. Mike Lee, CEO of PrimaCure, which is behind some of the latest developments in regenerative medicine and aesthetics solutions, has been doing training sessions and demos on the use of exosomes (more on this later) for hair growth and rejuvenation with hair and scalp care center Svenson.

“What surprises me is that anywhere in the world, whenever I do a demo [on the use of exosomes for hair], it’s on 95 percent men,” he begins. This suggests that more men have hair loss concerns, making them ideal candidates for the trial. “Here in the Philippines, the majority of the demos I’ve done are on 99 percent women.”

“And even when we did the training sessions here at Svenson and the staff, I was a bit worried, because no one appeared like they had hair issues,” he continues. “And once I actually pulled their hairline back, I think every single one–100 percent of therapists and consultants–all had some sort of hairline issue,” Lee reveals.

“Filipino women are really, really good at hiding their hairlines,” he adds, jokingly. “They do it super well, like with makeup or with bangs.”

It’s More Stressful in the Philippines

Hair loss has become more common in Filipina women than it used to be. One might blame factors like the heat and humidity, which are very characteristic of the Philippines. Or perhaps, it’s our diet (don’t we all love our liempo?) or how we like to shower twice a day.

But Lee draws the curtain back on a truth we kind of already know deep inside: “I think it’s stress… it’s really stress,” he says. “I’ve never seen women consistently with hairline issues as much as in the Philippines. You guys work hard. Filipino women are known for being hardworking,” he points out. 

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“I think we can all agree that Filipino women, comparatively to the rest of and especially in Asia, are the head of the household, and are a little bit more financially [in charge], right?” he says. “And for me, I think it’s very evident that I see how it’s affecting their hairlines, for sure.”

Data from a study made in the early ‘90s show that “female household headship has been increasing in the Philippines not only as a result of widowhood but of social changes [such as the rise in female labor force] that are affecting family life and the roles of women.” Such arrangements, it cites, “have placed a greater responsibility on women to provide for children and support their families.” 

The Stress on Stress

But is stress the sole culprit? Of course, other factors come into play. For women, it could be genetics or even hormones (isn’t it always hormones?).

Dr. Therese Cacas, a hair transplant specialist at The Medical City’s Wellness & Aesthetics Institute, shares: “Stress can come from the daily pressures or unexpected events we encounter in life or at work, but it can also be from conditions that put stress on our body, such as extreme diet restrictions, rapid weight loss, or medical conditions like thyroid problems, diseases, a hormonal imbalance, and mineral deficiencies.”

“[Nowadays, people of this age range, 20s to 30s] are more pressured to work harder and longer, compromising general health,” she adds. “This may be one of the reasons why people experience more shedding today [compared to before.]” The good news? Per Dr. Cacas, stress-induced hair loss or telogen effluvium is temporary and hair can recover.

“Hair loss in our 30s is not normal. Typically, a woman would experience hair loss—if it’s by the book—in her 40s or 50s.”

Likewise, androgenetic alopecia, or hair loss due to hormones and genetics, can also be the case. “Androgens, a hormone that plays a vital role in normal growth and development, is also attributed to hair loss,” Dr. Cacas explains. Women with PCOS, for example, produce excessive amounts of androgen. “Because androgen hormones start becoming more expressed in puberty, hair loss and thinning can start during the teenage years, although this would not yet be obvious to the naked eye.”

“As one grows older, the manifestations of hair loss then become more apparent,” she adds. “For females, [this is usually seen] in the scalp showing through parted hair.” 

Dr. Cacas points out, however, that as a general rule, hair loss starts at age 50. “At this point, [one can expect half] of the population for both men and women to already have some form of hair problem,” she says. “Manifestations for hair loss problems like thinning or graying can come earlier and more severe for those with family members that experience the same issues.”

The Root of the Problem

“Hair loss in our 30s is not normal,” says Lee. “Typically, a woman would experience hair loss—if it’s by the book—in her 40s or 50s. You’re almost expecting it when that menopausal stage comes in, yes, but not in your 20s or 30s.” 

Hair loss, along with other changes in the body, can occur during menopause, due to the hormonal imbalances that happen in this phase. 

“I think [stress-induced hair loss] is a growing problem globally,” Lee adds. “Of course, our parents and grandparents say, ‘Oh, in my day, it was so difficult.’ But at the end of the day, come on, it’s harder to make a living in this modern day, right? We have to work longer and work harder and beat everyone to it, right? So that naturally gives us more stress, right?” he says.

Prevention is Better Than Cure

Along with the changing times come key developments in beauty and aesthetics, or, to get straight to the point: more advanced anti-hair loss solutions. NexoHair, an exosomes-based treatment at Svenson, for one, offers a pain-free, effective option for hair loss prevention and hair growth. 

Exosomes are tiny vesicles naturally produced by the cells that can help speed up healing and manage inflammation. It’s recently become all the rage for its potential effects in skincare and haircare, such as in NexoHair. 

“I always say it’s easier to prevent hair loss before you lose it all,” says Lee. “Yes, NexoHair can grow hair, great! But if you compare someone at 30 who started doing NexoHair or whatever treatment to maintain it, versus someone who started at 37 or 38 who has lost a significant amount of hair already, I would say that person who started at 30 will have better-looking hair now than the person who started at 37 to reverse the damage, right?”

In other words, if losing hair due to stress is causing us stress (a vicious cycle!), then we’re much better off with preventive treatments—before it’s too late and a transplant remains our only option. The 30s, they say, are the best times of our lives and it’s best lived with a full head of hair, yes?

Dare we say, maybe it’s a “good thing,” so to speak, to be losing—no, to be aware that we’re losing hair at this age (and in this day and age!). It gives us time to get to the root of the issue and do something about it.

Generation NexoHair: Fast Facts

What is NexoHair?

NexoHair is a hair and scalp treatment using exosomes that’s administered through microneedling. Exosomes carry information like growth factors and other generative materials that promote cell-to-cell communication to aid in healing, a better immune response, and regeneration. 

Used in hair treatments, the benefits of exosomes include: reactivation of dormant hair follicles, hair strength and growth, and a better scalp condition, among others. NexoHair is available at Svenson.

What makes NexoHair different from other anti-hair loss treatments?

“Previously, we delivered things like growth factors in a very crude manner—we just bombarded our skin and hair cells with long chains,” begins Mike Lee. “As you can imagine, that’s purely based on chance and not very effective and efficient, right?”

“With exosomes, putting in components such as growth factors and generative materials that promote hair growth, we can deliver it in a much more efficient manner [cell-to-cell] instead of just throwing that [randomly],” he adds.

If NexoHair is administered through microneedling, how can it be painless?

Microneedling on the face can be painful because it requires about one to two millimeters in depth. For NexoHair, the depth is only 0.3 millimeters which is very shallow. “It’ll feel like a scrub,” says Lee. “It just feels like you’re just tapping the top of your scalp with your nail.”

Is NexoHair recommended for men and women in their 30s?

It would be a stretch to say it’s a treatment for those in their 30s, but it’s certainly a good preventive measure for young individuals. For those in their 20s or 30s, once they notice changes in their hair pattern, it’s best to have their hair and scalp condition checked—stat! 

Whether it’s NexoHair or another form of hair treatment, a consultation at Svenson will let you know the best ways to address your hair and scalp issues (no matter how minor) early on. One session costs P35,000—not exactly cheap, but in the long run, it can save you stress and more money down the road. Compared to the cost of a hair transplant or surgery, it’s actually the more affordable option. Neglecting hair issues at its early stage can lead to bigger problems in the future and can be five to 10 times more expensive to treat.

How does the process go?

“A consultation would also involve counseling that includes taking your medical history,” shares Shai Aya-ay, certified trichologist at Svenson. An intensive analysis also includes a physical check of your scalp with a video microscope to see your hair and scalp closely. 

Is your scalp oily, dry, or in good condition? Are there flakes or buildup? How many hair strands do your hair follicles have? Are there bald spots, bumps, or other irregularities on your scalp? These will all be discussed with you. 

“Then, you’ll be advised of the options available to you, the treatments, whether cosmetic or surgical, and weighing the pros and cons of these,” adds Aya-ay.

Keep Your Hair On: A Lowdown on the Latest Treatments

Is NexoHair really effective? This writer tries it out to find out. 

To be fair, hair loss wasn’t really her top concern—until she did this interview and was subjected to the hair analysis machine. Seeing her hair and scalp up close opened her eyes to its real condition and convinced her to give the treatments a try. 

The Conditions

In this case, the writer is in her mid-30s with no aggressive signs of hair loss, but thinning is noticeable in the area where she parts her hair. After the intensive scalp analysis, the machine revealed that she has fewer than normal hair strands per follicle. It also showed buildup on her scalp, likely due to stress and/or hormones (and not because of a hair product).

The Treatments

Scalp Corrective Treatment

Because of the buildup on her scalp, the writer was advised to undergo Scalp Corrective Treatment sessions first before NexoHair. Clearing up the scalp can help it better receive the good components from the NexoHair treatment.

The Scalp Corrective Treatment comes in an oil-based solution for super dry scalp, or an alcohol or menthol-based one for very oily and normal to dry scalp. This was airbrushed onto her scalp to help clear it up. (Note from the writer: “It’s super relaxing, to be honest!”). An infrared light machine is put over her head for better product absorption.

One session takes about 30 minutes. In a span of about 3 to 5 months, the writer did at least five sessions of the Scalp Corrective treatment, until she was given the go signal to proceed with NexoHair.

NexoHair

The process of NexoHair can seem daunting, especially because of the microneedle. “What if I scream and the person in the next room hears me?” the writer asked the staff at Svenson. “I promise it won’t be painful, ma’am,” the staff replied, reassuringly. 

They resumed the procedure. 

Hair is parted into sections, then the solution is delivered via microneedling. True to what she saw and what she was told, the process was hardly painful, just a 1/10, or 3/10 in areas where skin is thinner. It did feel like a massage and it’s really possible to doze off during a session! 

Then, a TargetCool device is used to help the exosomes penetrate deeper into the scalp, as well as manage inflammation post-treatment. 

The entire procedure takes about an hour. It’s recommended to do three NexoHair sessions in four-week intervals.

The Results

Even just after the Scalp Corrective Treatments, results were already visible—and felt. The writer had less hair fall, and the machine revealed her cleaner, healthier scalp. 

After the first session of NexoHair, the writer observed more baby hair strands along her hairline. The bumps she’d used to get on her scalp especially when her period was approaching were also gone. The machine also revealed super micro hair growths—a good sign. 

After the second session and a couple of months later, the writer notices an improvement in the thinning along her hair parting. She continues to see more baby hair along her hair line and her scalp generally just feels cleaner–no more itchy bumps. “The results so far feel reassuring and I’m glad I was able to do the treatments early on,” she concludes.

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