Seoul, South KoreaJune 15, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Recently, the 14th World Congress for Hair Research (WCHR 2026), hailed as the “Academic Olympics” of global hair science, was grandly held in Seoul, South Korea. As an official partner, L’Oréal Research & Innovation and its Vichy brand under L’Oréal Dermatological Beauty Division jointly appeared. During the event, L’Oréal North Asia hosted a dedicated “North Asia Innovation Summit” session, systematically releasing for the first time in Asia multiple cutting-edge studies on scalp and hair longevity science. This showcased L’Oréal’s latest explorations in “The Beauty of Longevity,” “Medical-Research Co-Creation,” and AI-powered intelligent assessment, engaging in discussions on the future of the beauty and health industry with global authoritative clinical and hair medicine experts and industry leaders, including Professor Heo Chang-hoon, Co-Chair of WCHR 2026 and Head of the Department of Dermatology at Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, and Professor Wu Wenyu, Chair of WCHR 2030 and Head of the Department of Dermatology at Huashan Hospital, Fudan University.
WCHR 2026 Co-Chair, Professor Heo Chang-hoon, Head of Dermatology, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital
WCHR 2030 Chair, Professor Wu Wenyu, Head of Dermatology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University
Cutting-Edge Insight: Debut of “Follicle Biological Age,” Ushering in a New Era of Hair Longevity Science
Under the guidance of L’Oréal’s “Beauty of Longevity” philosophy, the definition of beauty has shifted from merely “anti-aging” against time to proactively managing health throughout the entire life cycle through science. Based on this forward-thinking understanding, L’Oréal Research & Innovation continues to advance the “L’Oréal Longevity Integrative Science™” system, strengthening the deep implementation of five core pillars: Precise Diagnostics, Topical Skincare/Haircare, Beauty Devices, Oral Supplements, and Customized Services. It has also expanded longevity science from skin research to the field of scalp and hair health.
At the innovation summit, Ms. Pascale Mora, Global Scientific Communications Director at L’Oréal Research & Innovation, introduced the original scientific concept of “Follicle Biological Age.” Research indicates that the biological aging rate of hair follicles is not equivalent to chronological age but is jointly regulated by a series of aging biomarkers, including stem cell exhaustion, mitochondrial dysfunction, chronic micro-inflammation, and proteostasis imbalance. Based on this discovery, L’Oréal has established a longevity research system for hair follicles, protected by patents, systematically decoding the root mechanisms behind issues such as hair thinning, hair loss, graying, and scalp sensitivity. The goal is to extend the healthy lifespan of each hair follicle through earlier and more precise scientific intervention, leading a paradigm shift from “anti-hair loss” to “hair longevity.”
Pascale Mora, Global Scientific Communications Director, L’Oréal Research & Innovation
Mora also shared that microbiome dysbiosis has been formally incorporated as a core focus of L’Oréal’s hair longevity research. With 25 years of deep exploration in microbiome research, supported by 17 patents and the industry’s most comprehensive clinical microbiome database covering over 7,000 patients, L’Oréal Research & Innovation has achieved numerous milestone discoveries: from redefining skin issues as microbiome imbalances to launching proprietary postbiotic innovation technologies and strategically shifting towards targeted interventions, setting new benchmarks for evidence-based skin and scalp care.
Meanwhile, Dr. Frédéric Flament, Global Director of Clinical, Physical, and Technological Science Intelligent Assessment at L’Oréal Research & Innovation, elaborated on the core role of AI in longevity science. He highlighted L’Oréal’s largest global study on the link between skin and mental health. Covering over 21,000 respondents across 12 countries, the study collected 630,000 questionnaire responses and 420,000 image data points. The large-scale quantitative data revealed that hair loss is the single most impactful skin or hair issue on mental health and quality of life globally, causing psychological burdens (including reduced confidence and vitality) far exceeding acne and hyperpigmentation, and is universal across gender, skin type, and cultural boundaries.
Dr. Frédéric Flament, Global Director of Clinical, Physical, and Technological Science Intelligent Assessment, L’Oréal Research & Innovation
The study also noted that up to 54% of Chinese volunteers reported scalp sensitivity issues, ranking among the highest in Asia. This finding calls on the industry to move beyond traditional “efficacy-oriented” innovation in future scalp and hair solutions, integrating mental health and emotional well-being into the core of research and communication, responding to consumers’ emotional needs in a more holistic and empathetic manner.
Medical-Research Co-Creation: Breaking Barriers, Building a New “Bedside to Bench” Closed Loop
“Medical-Research Co-Creation” and rapid translation are becoming key pathways for advancing hair longevity science. During the summit, Dr. Ni Chunya, Deputy Chief Physician of Dermatology at Huashan Hospital Jing’an Branch, Fudan University, shared the latest results from the “Huashan Hospital-L’Oréal China Medical-Research Co-Creation Dermatology Laboratory,” vividly demonstrating the transformative value of deep collaboration between the medical field and industry R&D.
Dr. Ni Chunya, Deputy Chief Physician, Department of Dermatology, Huashan Hospital Jing’an Branch, Fudan University
- Asia’s First “Hair Fall Atlas for Chinese Men”: Addressing the trend of increasingly younger and earlier-onset hair loss in Chinese men, the collaboration analyzed trichoscopy images of 400 Chinese men. Combined with L’Oréal’s proprietary Fast Image Scalp and Hair System (FISHS), they jointly established the first dedicated “seven-level microscopic hair loss grading system” for Chinese men.
- Establishing a New Benchmark for Early Intervention: Traditional Hamilton-Norwood scales often miss early signs of hair loss. The new seven-level trichoscopy atlas precisely captures microscopic features such as hair diameter heterogeneity, vellus hair, follicular openings, and scalp exposure, providing doctors with an objective and consistent assessment tool.
- Building a “Bedside to Bench” Innovation Ecosystem: The collaboration has moved beyond the traditional “co-validation” model, upgrading to a new “Medical-Research Co-Creation” paradigm. Leveraging Huashan Hospital’s deep expertise in clinical dermatology and research, combined with L’Oréal’s global capabilities in consumer insights, bioscience, AI diagnostics, and advanced formulation, frontline clinical observations directly feed back into laboratory R&D, creating a complete innovation loop from clinical practice and basic research to product translation and real-world validation.
Dr. Ni specifically noted that this “Medical-Research Co-Creation” model and its joint achievements were featured in an in-depth report by Nature Custom Media, part of the Nature portfolio, published in the May 2026 issue of Nature. This marks the first time a medical-research co-creation practice in the Chinese beauty industry has received such in-depth analysis from this internationally authoritative platform*.
Roundtable Dialogue: The Symbiosis of Science, Technology, and Humanity
The summit featured a special “Future of Beauty” roundtable forum. Moderated by Sharon So, Director of Public Affairs at L’Oréal Korea, the panel included Professor Wu Wenyu, Head of Dermatology at Huashan Hospital, Fudan University; Dr. Frédéric Flament, Global Director of Clinical, Physical, and Technological Science Intelligent Assessment at L’Oréal Research & Innovation; Dr. Anne-Laure Bernard, Global Head of Scalp Formula Development at L’Oréal Research & Innovation; and Ye Chengda, Director of Digital Intelligent Beauty for North Asia at L’Oréal Research & Innovation. They engaged in in-depth discussions on three key topics: the practical application of longevity science, balancing AI with humanity, and how North Asia can act as an engine driving global innovation.
“The Future of Beauty” Roundtable Forum
When discussing “how products move from laboratory research to real-world application,” the panelists emphasized the leading role of the “Medical-Research Co-Creation” model in driving industry development. Dr. Frédéric Flament pointed out that through advanced AI-assisted assessment, we can now evaluate the healthspan of skin, hair, and scalp with unprecedented scientific precision, establishing new research paradigms that simulate long-term trends in short-term studies. At L’Oréal Research & Innovation, these breakthrough assessment technologies not only help us decode complex biological mechanisms but also scientifically validate the tangible efficacy of our next-generation longevity solutions. Professor Wu Wenyu noted that scalp and hair health has moved from traditional “empirical judgment” into the era of “evidence-based medicine.” The “Medical-Research Co-Creation” ecosystem built by Huashan Hospital and L’Oréal breaks down industry barriers, ensuring that every step of R&D precisely meets the clinical needs of Chinese consumers.
Regarding how AI beauty technology can truly serve consumers, Professor Wu Wenyu shared from clinical practice: “For young patients who experience severe anxiety in the early stages of hair loss but do not yet meet clinical diagnostic criteria, AI technology can precisely capture early signs of hair loss, empowering doctors to implement ‘early prevention’ more precisely and at an earlier stage. This not only improves diagnostic accuracy but also provides significant emotional comfort and a sense of security to patients.” Ye Chengda added from a digital intelligence perspective: “Digital intelligence technology serves as a bridge connecting intangible science with consumers. AI diagnostics not only provide consumers with proactive, convenient, and personalized longevity management tools but also help researchers deeply understand consumers’ real conditions and emotional needs, making technology more humanized beyond precision.”
As a core strategic market in L’Oréal’s global R&D network, North Asia is gradually becoming the “powerhouse heart” of global beauty technology innovation. Dr. Anne-Laure Bernard stated: “North Asia has the most discerning and intelligent consumers globally, who have extremely high expectations for scientific transparency and tangible efficacy. Here, local concepts like ‘Medical-Research Co-Creation’ and ‘Beauty Across the Life Cycle’ are injecting strong momentum into L’Oréal’s global R&D and innovation, inspiring us to continuously strive for excellence and push the boundaries of understanding efficient, precise, and personalized beauty. This allows cutting-edge science born in North Asia to be perfectly transformed into accessible global beauty solutions.”
Forum moderator Sharon So concluded: “Scientific research, formulation innovation, and clinical co-creation are now highly integrated and working synergistically under the ‘Beauty of Longevity’ framework. Augmented Beauty will never strip away the warmth of science; instead, it seamlessly places the expertise and human touch of doctors into the pockets of consumers.”
As Ms. Lan Zhenzhen, President of Public Affairs for L’Oréal North Asia and China, stated in her opening address at the summit: “The North Asia region is at the forefront of the ‘Beauty of Longevity’ transformation. What we pursue is not only making medical-grade excellent products and digital intelligent services accessible but also hoping that technology can be benevolent and kind over time, warmly safeguarding everyone’s self-esteem and self-confidence.”
Ms. Lan Zhenzhen sharing the ‘Beauty of Longevity’ concept at the summit
During the congress, L’Oréal also hosted a joint satellite symposium titled “Advances in Scalp and Hair Care: Longevity Outlook and Integrated Care,” co-chaired by Professor Wu Wenyu and Professor Bianca Maria Piraccini, former President of the European Hair Research Society (EHRS). The symposium focused on sharing clinical practices of “integrated scalp management protocols” for the perioperative period of hair transplantation, as well as L’Oréal’s latest cutting-edge theories and research explorations in scalp longevity science.
Dr. Niu Yueqing, Director of Medical Affairs and Scientific Communications for North Asia at L’Oréal Research & Innovation, stated: “WCHR is the most authoritative academic platform in global hair research. We chose to systematically present L’Oréal’s latest scientific achievements in hair longevity here because truly industry-changing scientific innovation must withstand the most rigorous research scrutiny. From the integrated longevity science system to AI-powered global population studies and the first microscopic hair loss atlas for Chinese men—the results released today represent L’Oréal’s complete scientific ecosystem that deeply integrates basic research, clinical validation, and consumer needs.”
*Based on search results on www.nature.com using the keywords “Medical-Research Co-Creation” and “Cosmetic”