Research Paper :  A Study on the Factors Affecting Alopecia among Women in Middle Age

Park, Ju Yeun; Chang, Chang Gok

Journal of the Korean Society of Cosmetology 2013;19(6):1161-1165.
Published online December 31, 2013.

중년 여성의 탈모관련 요인 분석

박주연, 장창곡

Research Paper : A Study on the Factors Affecting Alopecia among Women in Middle Age

Ju Yeun Park, Chang Gok Chang

Abstract

According to the national health insurance statistics, number of women with alopecia in their 50s have been increasing steadily since2000, but there were few studies on the cause of alopecia among women. The purpose of this study was to find out the status and factors affecting to alopecia among women in middle age. Cross-sectional study design was adopted in which women(n=401) in 40s and 50s in Seoul and Kyeonggi province who visit beauty salon were enrolled. Data were collected from August 6th 2012 to August 31th 2012 by questionnaire survey. Tensility, elongation, and thickness of hair were measured using Universal Testing Machines(TO 101) and Round test RA-1600. Prevalence of alopecia was 32.4% and significant factors accelerating alopecia among women and ORs(95% CI) of those factors were 2.334(1.194~4.560) for thyroid disease, 3.153(1.137~8.742) for diabetes, 2.110(1.016~4.382) for diastolic blood pressure,4.853(2.941~8.007) for family history, and 2.939(1.644~5.256) for stress. But OR(95% CI) for shampoo was .462(.274~.794). Hair from women with alopecia were thinner(t=6.247, p<.001) but had more tensility(t=2.173, p<.05) than that from women without alopecia. In conclusion, one third of women were suffering from alopecia and accelerating factors were thyroid disease, diabetes, family history and stress, but shampoo was a preventive factor against alopecia. And hair from alopecia were thinner and stronger than that of withou talopecia.

Key Words: Alopecia, Women, Factors, Tensility, Thickness