ABSTRACT
The Korean Hair Research Society has estimated that hair loss in South Korea affects more than 10 million individuals, and that 20% of these people are upset over their hair loss. Consequently, various products claiming to be good for managing hair loss have been released. The market of options to prevent and care for hair loss—including shampoos and treatments, medicine and medical supplies, and wigs—has exceeded $922.5 million as of 2014 (MSD Market Research). However, the ratio of medicine and medical supplies to other items in the hair-loss-related product market is insignificant. In April 2014, Houttuynia cordata was made available in the medicinal market as a potential ingredient that is quite effective for hair growth. Shampoos to prevent hair loss became popular only starting in the late 2000s, and the number of shampoo items that have been approved by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety only now reaches 323. More recently, observed responses to hair loss treatment devices that generate low power lasers have been astonishing.
