February 21, 2025 – New Potential Culprit in Hair Loss: Microplastics Emerge as a Concern!
In recent years, hair loss has become a growing concern for many, with even the younger generation joining the ranks of those experiencing thinning hair, baldness, and receding hairlines. These phenomena have left numerous individuals feeling anxious. Now, surprisingly, microplastics have been identified as a possible contributing factor to hair loss.
So, what exactly are microplastics? They are plastic particles with a diameter of less than 5 millimeters, prevalent in the air, water sources, soil, and even the food chain. Their main sources include the decomposition and wear of plastic products, as well as byproducts from the production process.
How could microplastics lead to hair loss? According to insights from the Color Masterbatch Industry Network, a study has revealed that polystyrene microplastics undergo aging under ultraviolet radiation, altering their physical and chemical properties. Feeding experiments on mice have shown that these aged microplastics can damage the skin and hair follicles, resulting in diffuse hair loss. The specific mechanism may involve microplastics enhancing oxidative stress and inhibiting the activity of antioxidant-related proteins, leading to impaired tight junctions between cells in the hair follicles and an increase in hair loss.
However, scientific research has yet to definitively confirm a direct causal relationship between microplastics and hair loss. Hair loss is a multifactorial condition, making it difficult to attribute solely to microplastics. Nevertheless, microplastics may directly or indirectly affect scalp health through inflammation, oxidative stress, endocrine disruption, or physical irritation.
So, how do microplastics enter the human body? They primarily enter through dietary intake, inhalation, and skin contact. Sources include drinking water, contaminated food, food packaging materials, and microplastic particles in the air. Additionally, some personal care products contain microplastics, which may enter the body through skin contact during use.
Therefore, when addressing hair loss, apart from traditional factors such as genetics, hormones, stress, and diet, we must also be vigilant about microplastics as a potential culprit. Simultaneously, efforts should be made to strengthen research and regulation, reducing the presence of microplastics in the environment and food to protect people’s health.