New in North Korea: Hair loss products

Hair loss merchandise are actually on the market in North Korea amid an obvious uptick within the variety of individuals combating thinning hair or going bald, specialists in South Korea with information of the nation instructed Radio Free Asia.

Examples of such merchandise might be seen on the homepage of International Commerce of the DPRK, or the Democratic Individuals’s Republic of Korea, the formal title of North Korea.

However lots of the therapies are too costly for peculiar individuals – and is probably not very efficient, the specialists stated.

North Koreans look like affected by hair loss for quite a lot of causes, stated Choi Jeong Hoon, who labored as a physician within the North earlier than fleeing to the South. He’s now a senior researcher on the Public Coverage Analysis Institute at Korea College in Seoul.

Some expertise hair loss from the aftereffects of usually life-threatening typhoid and paratyphoid fever, he stated.

“After affected by these infections, hair loss is extreme,” he stated.

Harsh chemical substances in cleaning soap and laundry detergent that North Koreans use to clean their hair can also trigger hair to fall out as a result of they’ll irritate the scalp, Choi stated.

“It’s not straightforward to seek out gentle chemical merchandise in North Korea’s present state of affairs,” he added. “Odd residents can’t afford to fret about hair loss.”

Army caps

Caps worn within the army – all able-bodied males are usually required to serve 10 years within the armed forces – may harm one’s hair, stated Ahn Kyung Soo, head of DPRKHealth.org, a weblog on well being points in North Korea.

Sweating whereas carrying the cap inhibits correct air flow, resulting in disagreeable odors and bacterial buildup that may clog pores, in the end leading to thinning hair, Ahn stated. 

“When one goes into the army in North Korea, the surroundings is poor,” he stated. “For instance, there are testimonies even in South Korea that carrying a army cap causes hair loss.”  

Hair loss therapies in North Korea are divided into prescribed drugs and useful cosmetics, creating some consternation about which to decide on, the specialists stated.

Among the many new merchandise are Guritdae Hair Loss Tincture manufactured by Pyongchon Koryo Pharmaceutical Manufacturing unit, which treats patchy and thinning hair and whole hair loss that consequence from autoimmune issues that assault hair follicles, inflicting hair to fall out.

Then, there’s Hair Progress Tonic made by the Shinuiju Cosmetics Manufacturing unit whose label says it’s efficient for stopping untimely hair loss and for selling hair progress.

Effectiveness questionable

Although the merchandise might comprise substances which are believed to be good for hair or pores and skin, it’s tough to confirm their efficacy as medicines, Ahn stated.

“North Korean medicines can’t really be verified,” he instructed Radio Free Asia.

North Korean hair loss medicines are principally “oriental medicines” — topical tonics primarily based on medicinal herbs, so their impact is more likely to be minimal, stated Choi.

For instance, customers are to dip a pine needle-like brush right into a glass bottle and apply it to the scalp to stimulate areas affected by hair loss, he stated.

However this won’t do the trick as a result of hair loss might be affected by male hormones and consequence from pores and skin illnesses, Choi stated.

“So, making use of drugs on the affected half won’t remedy the issue,” he stated.

Some North Koreans affiliate a lack of hair, referred to as bondae in Korean, with poverty. 

However at different instances it has been seen as an indication of wealth.

“This notion has develop into entrenched as a result of the so-called ‘main bondae’ sample of hair loss is especially prevalent amongst rich and highly effective individuals, equivalent to officers or representatives of firms that earn international foreign money,” Choi stated.

“It refers back to the picture of being grasping, having a number of luck, and making some huge cash,” he added.

Even in South Korea, till the Nineteen Eighties and early Nineteen Nineties, individuals didn’t assume baldness seemed unhealthy, stated Choi. “There was a notion that having a stomach and a bald head made one look manly and wealthy.”

Translated by Claire Shinyoung Oh Lee for RFA Korean. Edited by Roseanne Gerin and Malcolm Foster.